1. RIVER HOUSE
SHELTER
Alex, Amber, Kaitlyn, Nicole, Taylor

2. Overview
 “Provides a safe place to sleep,
filling supper and fortifying
breakfast daily”
 Provides emergency shelter to
homeless men
 Have 34 beds
 Offer 5 single rental units

3. Things Learned
 They do not have their own
website- only a Facebook page
 Their title is River House
Shelter (not River Street
Shelter)

4. Presented in the Media
 Typically negative
 “People drive by and yell
insults at people staying
at the shelter”
 2 men arrested for
trespassing and camping
out on Roundy Street- The
address they gave was
River House Shelter
 Positive media
 Endicotts’ Young Alumni
Association volunteered at
the Shelter- painted and
landscaped

5. Perceptions
 Some negative:
 People yell insults passing
the shelter
 Homeless residents feel
like they will be judged as
criminals
 Some positive:
 Community supports
shelter with donations
and supply food
 Endicott College provides
volunteer services

6. Challenges
 Overcrowding- only 34 beds
 Financial struggles
 Only receive about $50,000 from government
 Have to raise the rest of their $200,000
budget from donations and grants
 Temporarily closed (May 1, 2011)
 Suspended evening meals (April 1, 2011)

7. Questions
 What do you do to keep a good reputation
within the community?
 What is done to help occupants within the
shelter to better their life situation?
 How many people do you extend services to?
 Where are most of your occupants from?
 What are the life situations of most of your
occupants?
 How was this organization started?
 Where does most of the organizations
funding come from?