Safe Harbor Seeks Support

It's a new beginning for Easton Inc..

As of Oct. 1, the homeless shelter on Bushkill Drive will officially be governed by an Easton-based volunteer advisory board.

Safe Harbor's new director, Tyler Rogers, is rallying supporters in the Easton community to raise $100,000 in 2011/2012 to support the shelter's mission -- to motivate the homeless to work toward self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life while assisting them to meet their basic needs.

Rogers and Chris Cassidy, planner with the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, appeared before the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors Tuesday night to make a pitch.

"We're here to ask for your support for Safe Harbor," Rogers said. "Without Safe Harbor, I don't know what residents of the Easton area would do."

Safe Harbor Easton Inc. has provided clean, safe emergency shelter and transitional housing to hundreds of homeless men and women for more than 20 years. In addition to providing shelter, Safe Harbor has also served thousands of meals to the hungry in the community.

Rogers, who served as case manager for four years, said the shelter has helped 116 residents find . He said about 16 men and women are living in the shelter and that between 30-35 people use its services every day.

On Saturday, the shelter will unveil the Easton Recovery Center on the second floor, offering numerous services.

"We really have some exciting things happening," Rogers said. "Come down and volunteer. It's a great experience."

Rogers and Cassidy both stressed the shelter's importance during these tough economic times, saying that "it's not what you expect, it's your mother and father" who use the services.

These are tough times for Safe Harbor, too.

This transition comes as Congress passed a continuing resolution in April that cut about $20 million from Community Services Block Grants. CACLV receives about $850,000 annually from the program and expected to lose about $50,000 in grant money -- 35 percent of which was allocated to Safe Harbor. The transition to Safe Harbor Inc. will be a multi-year transition with continued funding from CACLV.

Palmer Township Supervisor Chairman Dave Colver said the township usually donates $3,000 to the center.

Due to funding cutbacks, Rogers said Safe Harbor has a budget of $250,000 compared with $400,000 last year. He said that's why funding from municipalities can make a difference.

Safe Harbor Inc. is prepared to transition management of the program from Bethlehem-based CACLV, which has managed the shelter since 1993, to the current Safe Harbor Easton Inc. advisory board.

Rogers said it's important for Safe Harbor to share its success stories with communities.

"If you can get out in front of people, even for five minutes, it will really help," Colver said.