The Center is seeking individuals to join the awake overnight team who will oversee nightly operations throughout the shift to maintain a welcoming safe place that protects guests, volunteers, and staff. The ideal candidates will have experience engaging in positive and healthy ways with individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, domestic violence, mental health challenges, or reentry after incarceration. Specific training will be provided.

• Supervises facility activities to ensure safety of guests, staff and volunteers.

• Enforces community expectations uniformly and consistently.

• Conducts intake and orientation of guests.

• Manages opening and closing duties.

• Responsible for maintaining accurate guest records and nightly logs.

• Respects strict code of confidentiality regarding guests and fellow staff members at all times.

• Responds appropriately to needs and crisis situations, such as mediating basic interpersonal problems, and contacting emergency personnel if necessary.

• Provides advocacy, information, and referral services to guests within the limits of the position.

• Assists in maintaining the facility in a clean, sanitary, and safe condition.

• Responsible for knowing and following the Warming Center’s policies and procedures.

• Works as a team with other colleagues and volunteers on shift.

• Attends staff meetings and training.

• Represents the organization professionally at all times.

• Reliability: Is present for work as scheduled.

• Composure: Is not knocked off balance by a crisis; is cool under pressure; is considered mature; can be counted on to hold things together during challenging times.

• Communication: Is good at focused/active listening.

• Integrity and Trust: Responds to situations with consistency and reliability; maintains confidentiality.

• Interpersonal Relationships: Maintains exquisite boundaries; is self-aware; relates well to all kinds of people; builds appropriate rapport.

Education or equivalent experience working with those who are unhoused, experiencing poverty, mental health and/or substance use disorder. Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply. These are seasonal positions with a start date of mid-October for training and running through the end of April. Rate of pay is $18-$20 per hour. We are looking for multiple staff to collectively cover 5PM-7AM, 7 nights each week. 6-hour shifts and 8-hour shifts are available.

To apply, please send an email to keepaugustawarm@gmail.com to receive application materials.

Women’s   Underwear

Socks

Sweatpants

Hand Soap

Coffee   Creamer

Sugar

Ravioli

Toe Warmers

Hand Warmers

Snacks

Milk

Belts

Donations Can Be Dropped off at after 5:00p at the Warming Center, which is located on 34 Bridge St in Augusta, behind South Parish Congregational Church.

If you are unable to deliver at this time donations can be dropped off At 9 Church South Parish Congregational Church.

You can drop it off Monday Thru Wednesday Between the Hours of 9:00am to 2:00pm.

You can donate online at our website southparish@gmail.com  

Or mail a check to the Augusta warming Center 9 Church St. Augusta Me 04330

The Phone Number to the Warming Center is 207-530-0005 Calls are answered after 5:00pm, Please leave a message. Thank You for caring

Inspired by The Warming Center and a friend’s experience. Bethany Sirabella, our Nursery School Director wrote this heartfelt poem from a homeless person’s perspective.

I was pushing my bike

going out the back door

I dropped my drink, it went everywhere

I couldn’t take it anymore

I burst into to tears

with way to many fears

Suddenly, she was there.

She said, “Do you need any help?”

Why do you care?

Why are you talking to me?

Nobody talks to me! 

I’m trash!

I’m no good!

My kids were taken away from me.

What does it matter?

Why do you care?

She said, “I care”

Why are you talking to me?

Why are you helping me? 

She said “I don’t usually say this to anyone, but my son died of an overdose.”

as she looked at the track marks on my arms.

She held me and we cried

My family has disowned me.

She held me tight and we cried together

I heard her phone her ping

I heard her phone ring

She looked me in the eye,

“Don’t go in this direction. Get help, fight hard.”

and then she was gone

I often think of this lady

The one who talked to me

The one who cared

The one who held me and cried with me

Late at night thoughts of her helps me feel safe, helps me feel warm.

It’s colder now; the chill goes to the bone.

As nights get colder, it makes me shiver.

It’s so, so cold.

I don’t have a home.

I’ve heard some talk about people who care! 

Now I don’t have to sleep just anywhere!

They called it a warming center, a place to sleep at night.

A place to stay out of the cold and the snow.

A place that I can sleep and dream of the lady that talked to me.

The lady that hugged me and cried. 

Maybe someday I can take her advice,

A hug from my kids and my Mom would be nice.

For now I can at least stay warm in a shelter with others, a place to be

dry and safe.

A place that I can dream of a lady who cared.

Bethany Sirabella

Oct. 2022

34 Bridge Street

Augusta 

THE AUGUSTA EMERGENCY OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTER

LOCATED AT 34 BRIDGE ST. (ON THE OTHER END OF THE BUILDING)

THE WARMING CENTER IS OPEN 5:00PM TO 7:00AM.

PHONE NUMBERS:

5:00PM TO 7:00AM 

207-530-0005

FOR DONATIONS AND QUESTIONS CALL 

MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 9:00AM TO 5:00PM 

207-314-9303

PLEASE CALL BEFORE DROPPING OFF DONATIONS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SURPPORT

WARMING CENTER NEEDS FOR THIS WEEK

Coffee

Creamer   (Powered)

Milk

Ramen Noodles

Mac n’ Cheese   Cups

Hot Pockets

We need blankets that are thin and easily washable.

No heavy quilts or comforters

Thank You so much for your caring support

Homeless people are some of the most stereotyped and discriminated people in our society. Admit it or not, most of us think that they are either too lazy to work or drug addicts.

But many homeless people are just victims of circumstances beyond their control. A lot of them have jobs but are not earning enough to live a decent life. Many of them are also suffering from mental illnesses stemming from childhood traumas.

So, before you stereotype homeless people, remember most of them did not have your connections and opportunities. Before you shrug them off as bums and deadbeats, try to put yourself in their shoes. A little empathy can go a long way.

Start by smiling at them. You have no idea how a simple, sincere smile from a stranger can help a person going through a tough time. If you have the time, try to start a conversation with someone experiencing homelessness.

Stop ignoring them or treating them as a disgrace. Reaching out to them helps break the stigma. If more and more people will understand what they are going through, it will open up society’s mind about the reality of their plight. The less time we spend judging them, the more time we have to help them.

Creating a safe and warm space for the homeless and those most vulnerable in our community. 

Augusta is short an estimated 900 housing units.  The warming center first opened last year in anticipation of providing overnight shelter to about 20 people, but it quickly became apparent that the need was greater.

Although they averaged 30 people per night last year, some nights over 40 people needed a warm place to stay.

ALL  ARE WELCOME

A WARM AND SAFE PLACE

The Augusta Overnight Warming Center is a low barrier facility.  

While we are a faith-based mission of the South Parish Congregational Church there is no requirement for an individual to be like-minded nor forced to listen to our beliefs.  

All are welcomed inside the shelter!  Our Christian faith gives us purpose, to love one another.

We remain committed to our mission to save lives, link people to resources, and encourage dignity through low-barrier access to a warm safe place for those in need. 

We are community funded and supported. We thank the community for their strong support of the Augusta Emergency Overnight Warming Center and the other ministries and agencies that provide help and shelter to those without a home in our community.

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Since Homelessness affects us all, it also takes all of us to put an end to it. You may think that your efforts won’t matter. But remember that even a single drop of water can make ripples in the ocean. Even simple things like advocating and creating awareness about homelessness, sharing your meal with a homeless person, or donating to homeless charities can take us one step closer to ending homelessness.

 Apart from food and clothing, what homeless people (and all of us for that matter) really need is a little bit of kindness and respect. 

 They might have fallen on unfortunate circumstances but that doesn’t make them less respectable than everyone else. Just like you and me, a kind smile or a simple “good morning” can brighten up their day. In the same vein, a small act of kindness can go a long way in helping them turn their lives around.

So whenever you meet a homeless person, treat with the same respect and kindness that you give everyone else.

 A Mission of The South Parish Congregational Church

Our Church is right where it needs to be

 The warming center, located in an annex of the South Parish Congregational Church at Bridge and State streets, is opening two weeks early this year and will be open two weeks later to better address the needs of the city’s homeless population, 

  The season will run from Oct. 15 to May 15. 

Through harsh Maine winters, we are a Low Barrier facility to save lives!

We accept people as they are. We provide a warm safe shelter for individuals who may have no other option.

The mission of the The Augusta Overnight Warming Center is to save lives, link resources, and encourage dignity through low-barrier access to a warm safe place for those in need. We provide showers, laundry, light food, and onsite resources throughout the year.

 “We love because He first loved us.” ~ 1 John 4:19. It really is that simple. We are called to love and care for those in need.  Everyone needs shelter and it is not our mission to judge who deserves shelter and who does not, because we understand that we do not get what we deserve either. It is because of our faith that we support the mission of the The Augusta Warming Center.

It is in faith that we take each next step, without knowing where the funding will come from. We believe the Augusta Overnigh Warming Center is the right thing to do and we understand it will take many in our community to make it happen!

The Augusta Overnight Warming Center is low barrier. Any requirement for an individual to listen to our beliefs or to participate in our faith can be a barrier for individuals and families to feel welcomed inside the shelter. We will not force our faith on anyone. 

Everyone is welcome! We only want to love in ways that make others wonder why we are different. We want to share a light that is so amazing, our neighbors will want to know the source of it.

A huge thank you to Summit Natural Gas of Maine for their generous support of our Augusta Overnight Emergency Warming Center and our Laundry Project for this season!!!  

We are so very grateful!

 Most people never really sat down and got to know a homeless person but every homeless person is just a real person that was created by God and it is the same kind of different as us; they just have a different story.  

 Seven out of ten Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless. 

Home was never a dream for homeless people as they used to have their homes. Living in a home was their reality. Now we need to help them to find the lost reality – again. – Munia Khan

 Before you ignore another homeless person on the street, just remember that that could be someone’s father or someone’s mother and they have a story. – Syesha Mercado

To save a life is a real and beautiful thing. To make a home for the homeless, yes, it is a thing that must be good; whatever the world may say, it cannot be wrong. – Vincent Van Gogh

There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help. – Jan Schakowsky

We can change the world and make it a better place. It’s in your hands to make a difference.

Homelessness is a global human tragedy. But if we work together, we can make the world better for everyone. No matter how small the effort is, it can make a difference. You don’t have to be a billionaire to inspire change. We can all help end homelessness in our own little ways.

Every living space has its own share of risks. But when you’re living on the streets, the risks of bodily harm or even death is significantly higher.

Reports of violence against homeless people usually include incidences of:

• being deliberately hit or kicked
• having things thrown at them
• being urinated on
• sexual assault
• verbal abuse
• intimidation and harassment

Aside from these acts of violence, homeless people also have to contend with the ever-present threat of starvation. On particularly harsh winters, the danger of freezing to death is also a grim possibility.

This is one of the biggest struggles for people experiencing homelessness. Despite many documentaries saying otherwise, many people still believe that the homeless are a bunch of addicts and bums who are a threat to public safety. This often prevents them from getting the respect due them as human beings.

Because of this prevailing social stigma, they usually find it hard to get a job or even keep a job. It also affects their housing prospects since there aren't many landlords willing to rent out to homeless people, even if they can afford to pay the rent.

When you’re sleeping rough and have nothing to eat, worrying about your health is the last thing you’ll think about. This is why a large number of homeless adults don’t have access to even basic health care services. In fact, one study reported that many homeless adults have substantial unmet needs for multiple types of health care. This is largely due to both a lack of health insurance and the high cost of medical treatments.

 As you can imagine, living on the streets can severely limit your hygiene and sanitation options. Some even have to go for days without taking a bath, washing their hair, or even brushing their teeth. Obviously, poor hygiene and sanitation can lead to poor health and various medical conditions.