In case you missed last week’s Insider, we wanted to let you know about the event this Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the new emergency winter shelter behind the Concord Homeless Resource Center. If you happened to read Tim’s story, consider this a friendly reminder.
After a few years of uncertainty with where the city’s homeless population would go on cold winter nights, the folks with the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness can now focus their energy on bigger tasks – like ending homelessness in Concord – thanks to the new digs.
While it’s not 100 percent complete, it’s done enough to have a little celebration with a sigh of relief.
The shelter is about as basic as you’ll find, but it will accommodate up to 40 individuals, and when it’s zero degrees out, basic will be just fine.
The event kicks off at 5 p.m. when the Concord Food Co-op Cafe fires up the grill and offers complimentary hot dogs (including vegan and vegetarian options) with all the fixings, chips and a beverage.
But after you grub down on some free food, the real reason why everyone is there will be at the forefront. The coalition, which is celebrating 10 years in 2018, has made big strides in its mission and deserves to be appreciated for a night. The program begins with brief remarks at 5:45 p.m. by Ellen Groh, executive director of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, and Mayor Jim Bouley, followed by the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 6.
There will be informal tours of both the shelter and the Concord Homeless Resource Center, which provides assistance to 40 to 45 individuals per day.
The resource center is located at 238 N. Main St.
The shelter will likely open in mid-December, considering its meant for those cold New Hampshire winter nights.
For more information, including the best places for you to park, visit concordhomeless.org.
Insider staff
