The Superior Connections Emergency Shelter at the First Presbyterian Church in Marquette is struggling to keep its’ doors open. They have started a new campaign asking the community to help meet their funding needs. With the number of available affordable housing options diminishing, Ryan Redmond Director of Superior Connections Emergency Shelters says there is no surprise that the number of guests per night has increased since they started.
Redmond, feeling the pressure of the possibility of running out of funds told us, “There’s a lot of suffering going on in our city right now. They’re coming to us hungry and cold and without clothes.”
Redmond says when he first hit the streets, he found 15 individuals that were without shelter and the highest we’ve been up to is 26 and that was last Sunday, April 2nd. He went on to tell us, “These people come to us with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, they’re undiagnosed and untreated, so we’re able to provide that bridge, that service and connection to the services they need and are lacking.”
Providing more than just a warm place to sleep and a meal, Superior Connections focuses on the individual and finding the help they truly need.
Redmond says the need goes deeper that what we see on the surface, and he said, “We can’t no trespass this issue away, we have to meet them where they are at, support them, bridge the gap to services, help them get the diagnoses and medications that they need so we can support them in housing going forward.”
With the Existing shelters unable to keep up with the demand, Redmond says their overall goal is to help homeless individuals find independent, safe, and permanent housing.
To jump start their fundraising, Superior Connections has a GoFundMe account and launched an initiative called “We CAN Recover!” Asking the community to donate their returnable cans and bottles to the shelter.
To find out how you can help, please go here.
