LAGUNA BEACH : Churches a Winter Refuge for Homeless

Aided by local churches that are providing shelter and volunteers, the city has launched its seasonal cold-weather shelter program for the fourth consecutive year.

Laguna Beach is the only city in Orange County that sponsors such a program, developed to provide indoor sleeping space for the homeless during cold or rainy nights.

Social service director Cindy King said the city has come to rely heavily upon the participation of the churches, which take turns opening their fellowship halls to people who have no place else to sleep.

“It would be very difficult (to provide shelter without the churches’ help), and that’s why it’s so special,” King said. “It is a community-based and community-involved program.”

The city provides blankets, mats and a security guard. Volunteers are on hand to register the homeless and to assign them clean-up duties.

Shelter is available December through March when the temperature dips to 40 degrees or below or when the forecast is for no more than 50 degrees with a 50% chance of rain. Last year, shelter was provided 35 times. Anywhere from five to 36 people sought refuge during those nights, King said.

Participating this year are Neighborhood Congregational Church on St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Presbyterian Church on Forest Avenue, United Methodist Church of Laguna Beach on Wesley Drive and Calvary Evangelical Free Church on Legion Street.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and First Church of Christ, Scientist will send volunteers to help out during the four-month period.

So far, the city has had no complaints from the community about the churches opening their doors to the homeless, King said. The program has been accepted, in part, because it provides such a basic need, she said.

If the homeless require food, clothing or other services, they go to other social service organizations in town, such as Episcopal Service Alliance. “By and large, the community has been very supportive.