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
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
Financially struggle
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?