Lansdale’s Code Blue shelters saw record numbers

With winter weather finally in the rearview mirror, Lansdale’s volunteers are looking back at a busy season.

A busy Code Blue season, specifically, as officials from Trinity Lutheran Church recapped a season of staffing two shelters for the unhoused.

“We had the longest stretch of Code Blue calls: we had 54 in order (on consecutive nights). Altogether we ended up having 104 nights that were Code Blue, throughout the season,” said Trinity pastor Fritz Fowler.

In early December, borough council’s parks committee approved the use of a parks and recreation building at Main Street and Lakeview Drive for use as a shelter for women, organized by the same volunteers associated with Trinity Lutheran Church that have operated a men’s shelter there since 2009.

Later that month, county and borough officials announced an agreement to operate a county short-term housing facility, also on Main Street, and in March both borough and county officials took part in a groundbreaking there, saying it would provide roughly 20 beds with a targeted fall 2025 opening.

During the council meeting on May 21, Fowler said the town’s Code Blue shelters this year “set multiple records,” for both duration and the number of people helped.

“We housed over 2,400 individuals, providing them a safe and warm place to rest for the evening. Each of our guests were offered dinner when they arrived; they would also receive coffee, through the evening, as well as breakfast as they departed,” he said.

Shelters opened at 7 p.m. and closed at about 7 a.m. on those nights they were open, and some visitors found links to resources they needed.

“We have had stories of folks who arrived homeless, but were able to get connected, and are now employed. Who live in homes here. Who work in our community. Who are now participating, and helping other people to thrive in our community,” he said.

    Name tags meant to identify belongings from men staying at the Lansdale Code Blue shelter are seen on a bulletin board on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
 By Dan Sokil | The Reporter   

“While Code Blue did not help and do all of that directly, they’re a small piece in that puzzle, along with a lot of community partners like the YMCA and Manna and other organizations that care for those that are most vulnerable and at-risk,” Fowler said.

Borough officials are currently working with Montgomery County to set up the county transitional housing facility on Main Street, just blocks away from the women’s shelter, and Fowler said that’s a sign of the strong support from area residents.

“What makes Lansdale stand out is our firm commitment, not just to the transitional housing project that we’re working on, but also to take the risk,” he said.

“No matter how they ended up housing insecure, food insecure, [they are received with open arms, in a safe and welcoming place to stay,” Fowler said.

    Donated food and packaging supplies sit on a counter below “Code Blue” fliers and signage at the shelter for men in Lansdale on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
 By Dan Sokil | The Reporter   

Those 2,400 nights spent in shelter beds provided shelter to 150 unique individuals, and the average night saw over 25 guests between the two shelters, the pastor said.

“That just shows that this is something that our county needs, and I am proud to be not just a resident, but also part of a community that takes this call seriously, that didn’t try to sweep it under the rug, or pretend that it’s not a problem, but tried to make a difference,” he said.

Volunteers were recognized at a celebration in April, and two organizers earned a shoutout from the pastor: Mark Lanan and Leslie Johnson, volunteers who sent out daily calls for volunteers and coordinated donations and staffing, which Fowler said “made both of these shelters possible.”

“Without Mark and Leslie, we would not have had a women’s shelter, and the men’s shelter would not have been able to open. I can’t begin to imagine how many sleepless nights they had this season, and stepped up to the task,” he said.

In addition to Lanan and Johnson, over 186 volunteers helped out on various shifts: the opening hours that welcome guests and get them set up in cots, overnight shifts between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and a breakfast shift that provides coffee and breakfast.

    Mark Lanan and Leslie Johnson at the shelter before the season of Code Blue cold. (Credit: North Penn Advocates)
  

“It was those volunteers who made this possible, and we need to give thanks to them, for pausing whatever was on their personal agendas, so they could help out and make this possible,” Fowler said.

Council President Mary Fuller said she saw the shelter and its successes as a team effort, with their efforts a key component.

“Without that piece of the puzzle … it’s significant. You can’t convince me otherwise … a warm place to stay, and a night of good rest just prepares you to face the day and the challenges that some of these folks will experience every single day,” she said.

“I know the volunteer effort that it takes. I’m proud of what we were able to do as Lansdale Borough, to add the women’s shelter, but it pales in comparison to the efforts of Leslie and Mark and your 186 volunteers. I had volunteered at the men’s shelter for a number of years, I understand the commitment it takes, and I was less than a drop in a bucket,” she said.

One volunteer worked at a local social club by day and would shut it down at night, then head over to the Code Blue shelter to staff those overnight hours, the council president added, saying that was just one sign of the strong support from the community.

“When you have 54 consecutive nights, that’s a lot of volunteer hours. And I know it’s particularly hard to get overnight people, because it’s tough to stay up all night long, especially if you have a day job or other overnight commitments. I can’t reiterate that enough, how just in awe I am of all of you who put in that kind of time and effort. It’s significant, and it’s not easy work,” Fuller said.

For more information or to assist, contact Lanan at (215) 272-4979, email [email protected] or follow “Code Blue Shelter – Lansdale, PA” on Facebook for more information.

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