WHAT IS THE MAUREEN'S HAVEN HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM?
Every evening during the winter months, November 1st through April 1st, homeless guests are screened and transported from the North and South Forks of Long Island to one of eighteen host Houses of Worship between Greenport and East Hampton.
Screening of guests consist of Breath-a-Lyzer Test, a physical check of the person and baggage and visual monitoring of the guest's behavior.
Upon arrival to the host site, the homeless guests are welcomed and are registered by church volunteers. Guests then proceed to the sleeping areas to claim their bed and put down their personal belongings.
Volunteers who have been preparing a nutritous, hot dinner for both the guests and volunteers are ready to serve 30 to 50* people by 7:00 pm. Everyone sits down together for dinner and shares this opportunity for fellowship.
After dinner guests are given the opportunity to attend an AA Meeting*, take a hot shower*, get warm clothes, consult with a medical professional or social worker*, play board games, attend an English (ESL) Class, watch a movie or just rest.
Volunteers (Innkeepers) stay to monitor the guests overnight. At day break (5 am) a breakfast crew arrives to prepare and serve a sunstantial, hearty morning meal. In addition, a bagged lunch is prepared for each guest to take with them upon departure.
The volunteer clean up crew begins to break down the beds and collect the bedding and towels for laundering at 6:30 am. The floors are swept and disinfected, bathrooms are sanitized and the kitchen is cleaned.
Promply at 7:00 am the guests leave and are transported back to where they originated.
*Capacity and amenities vary among the paticipating Houses of Worship
WHAT HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE USED FOR THE HOST SITES?
Some houses of worship actually host the shelter nights, while others will contribute their time and volunteers at other host sites. Each participating house of worship are listed below.
Host Houses of Worship
Christ Our Savior Lutheran, Hampton Bays
East Hampton United Methodist
Episcopal Church of The Redeemer, Mattituck
First Parish UCC, Northville
First Presbyterian Church of Southampton
First Presbyterian Church of Southold
First Universalist of Southold
Immaculate Conception RC, Westhampton Beach
Jewish Center of the Hamptons, East Hampton
Most Holy Trinity RC, East Hampton
Old Steeple UCC, Aquebogue
Our Redeemer Lutheran, Aquebogue
Sacred Heart RC, Cutchogue
Saint Mary's Episcopal, Hampton Bays
Saint Peter's Lutheran, Greenport
Saint Therese RC, Montauk
St. Patrick's RC, Southold
Westhampton Presbyterian
CONTRIBUTING HOUSES OF WORSHIP
Advent Lutheran, Mattituck
Assembly of God, Hampton Bays
Beach Methodist, Westhampton Beach
Christian Science Society
Community Christian Fellowship, Mattituck
First Baptist Church of Riverhead
Montauk Community Church
North Shore United Methodist Church, Wading River
Our Redeemer Episcopal, Southampton
Saint Rosalie's RC, Hampton Bays
St. John's Episcopal, Southampton
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork
United Methodist of Southold
Westhampton United Methodist
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU SERVE?
Each year, it varies. At the end of each season, we go through our paperwork from each host site to see how many individuals we served, ratios between men and women, our nights with the highest occupancy, our nights with lowest occupancy, etc. Below are some statistics from this past season.
Maureen's Haven 2012-2013 Facts
108 Nights Hosted
312 Individuals Served
50 Average served per night, highest at 60
18 Host Churches
14 Contributing Houses of Worship
5,433 Beds Made
81% Men
19% Women
7% Veterans
40% Working or willing to work Homeless
Over 1,500 Volunteers
