Homeless Shelter Still at Capacity; Forced to Turn Away People Nightly
NEWS RELEASE FROM JOY JUNCTION
JEREMY REYNALDS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ANS) — The phone lines at Albuquerque’s largest
emergency homeless shelter ring at all hours of the day and night.
Many times at the other end of the line is a discouraged family or
person needing a place to stay.
While Joy Junction is often able to help, with the current economic
downturn the privately funded faith-based ministry is being asked to
assist an ever-increasing number of homeless people.
The shelter’s space and resources continue to be strained to the limit.
Even with the warmer weather, since the closure of the city’s emergency
westside shelter, Joy Junction is turning away people nightly because of
a lack of space.
Joy Junction receptionist, dispatcher and former client Harold Eansor
hates having to tell callers that the shelter is full, because he knows
that there are usually no other options.
He said, “We do our best to utilize all usable space, but when there is
no more space, there is no more space.”
He added, “Those poor souls left on the streets will always be in my
prayers and the prayers of Joy Junction.”
Joy Junction Founder and CEO Dr. Jeremy Reynalds said having to turn
away people breaks his heart.
“I pray that ultimately we will somehow be able to help all of those
precious people who are asking for our assistance,” Reynalds said. He
added, “I don’t believe that the people we have to turn away are in any
way representative of the huge need out there. The word spreads quickly
on the streets that we’re full, and people stop calling.”
Reynalds added, “Sadly, when we have warm weather like we’re
experiencing now, many people don’t think about the needs of the
homeless. However, warm weather can be just as dangerous as cold,
because it can lead to dehydration and even death.”
Reynalds gave some helpful tips for helping the homeless in the summer
months.
* Don’t give money. It could be used to buy substances that might
inhibit a person’s ability to sense the harmful effects of exposure to
heat and sun. Instead, consider giving bottled water and refer the
person to an agency such as Joy Junction that provides food, shelter and
other assistance.
* Food is always welcome at Joy Junction, which is currently serving
about 10,000 meals a month.
* Clean, light and loose clothing is helpful for those who have been on
the streets, and decide to come to Joy Junction or another shelter to
clean up.
*Disposable diapers are always needed at Joy Junction. They help
children cope with the heat. Diapers, of course, need to be changed more
often to combat heat and diaper rash.
*Travel-sized toiletry items are always needed, and routinely in short
supply at Joy Junction.
For more information about Joy Junction, go to www.joyjunction.org
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