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Homeless shelter in need of funding to keep doors open

DARIEN — It was a series of unfortunate events that landed Linda and Rudy Gaytan at Twin Oaks homeless shelter.

The lease for their apartment was up in March. The couple and two of their children moved into the Super 8 Motel in Delavan because they had trouble finding an apartment that was big enough for the family. They only planned to stay at the motel until June.

Rudy was diagnosed in April with diabetes and lumbar degenerative disc disease, and his doctor ordered him not to work. Linda was fired from her job in May.

While Rudy began receiving unemployment compensation, it wasn’t enough to support a longer motel stay.

The couple applied June 1 for a room at the homeless shelter on Highway 11/14, but there was a waiting list. They lived off Rudy’s unemployment compensation and Linda’s severance pay until they could move into the shelter June 28.

“It was either this or sleeping in our car,” Linda said.

Twin Oaks offers 12 residential units, a community kitchen, a food pantry, a laundry room, a library and resource room and an outdoor playground. The shelter houses homeless individuals and families, mostly from Walworth County, for up to 90 days.

“It’s very nice here,” Linda said. “Not only do they give you a place to stay, but they’re very good at supporting you, helping you with whatever you need.”

The shelter provides a professional case manager, who works one-on-one with residents to resolve their crisis and find stable housing. The shelter also offers workshops on employment, landlord-tenant relationships, budgeting, alcohol and drugs and mental health.

But not every homeless family is as fortunate as the Gaytans.

There regularly is a waiting list, said J. Marc Perry, director of planning and development for Community Action, the organization that operates Twin Oaks. And the organization often struggles to keep its doors open.

Perry said the shelter must raise more than $200,000 to cover annual operating costs, which are based on the actual operating costs of previous years. Last year, the shelter was $50,000 short with mere weeks left in the year.

“We’re trying not to get ourselves in that situation again,” he said.

That’s why the organization is trying to get the word out now.

Perry said Community Action relies almost exclusively on private donations to operate the shelter, and as the cost of living increases, the organization is seeing smaller and fewer donations.

“People are way more frugal with their money,” he said.

While people are less apt to give money, they continue to give food, clothing and toiletries. But that’s simply not enough, he said.

“The shelter’s in need, and as we seek to expand and meet the needs of our clients and move them toward economic self-reliance, it starts with a place to stay,” Perry said. “It’s hard to get things turned around in 90 days, but it’s not impossible.”

Linda said she and her husband are grateful to the people who have donated to Twin Oaks.

“Every bit helps,” she said.

Perry said families such as the Gaytans rely on the shelter to remain open so they have a roof over their heads while they search for permanent housing and employment.

“The shelter is there. People expect it to be,” he said. “We need to keep the doors open.”

TO HELP

To make a donation, call Jody Stickney, community services manager, at (262) 728-8297 or send a check payable to Community Action to the organization’s Walworth County office, 1545 Hobbs Drive, Delavan, WI 53115. Write “Twin Oaks” in the memo line.

For more information, visit www.community-action.org.