ECHOS, Elizabethtown Community Housing & Outreach Services, started with the realization in December 2015 of the need of a winter shelter when a father and son were discovered living in a shed. The community responded to this need by starting a winter shelter at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. They were then serving approximately 13 individuals at the shelter. Within the first month, there was a realization that the shelter was only helping with one need of these individuals and they needed help with so much more; emotional, health, and financial issues were among the needs.
In the spring of 2016, a grant request was made to start a local social services agency, and in July 2016 ECHOS began. The service began with one employee, and 4 ½ years later they have 15 staff and 18 programs. Programs and services include eviction prevention, job readiness, emergency shelter programs, youth crisis counseling and intervention, community education, and so much more! They work along with the food pantry and clothing bank in Elizabethtown to meet the needs of individuals.
The needs of individuals are more complex as they deal with possible eviction, loss of job, and financial troubles, compounded by the worry of the pandemic along with isolation. Support is provided to these individuals to help them with their own unique needs by licensed social workers.
The homeless shelter is open to those needing a place to sleep. They check in around 6:00 p.m. each evening. They are given a warm meal and have the opportunity to take a shower. In the morning they are served breakfast. Before they leave for the day they are given water, a protein, and two or three snacks for the day. They recently moved the emergency winter shelter back to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church to meet CDC regulations on social distancing, etc. Their other space has been made into a quarantine area to meet the needs of those who may come in sick.
Currently, ECHOS financial support comes from grants and community donations. They rely heavily on the support of local churches, businesses, and community members to continue their programs and serve their vulnerable neighbors. Over the past 4 to 5 years, the community has responded to this incredible need, increasing their donations to this organization. Still, due to the volatility of grants, ECHOS seeks to transition to being fully community funded. That’s why they started ECHOS’ Circle of Giving! This recurring giving platform makes it easy for the community to partner with ECHOS and sustain the programs that help their neighbors through crises. With a one-time sign-up, many supporters are committing to ECHOS and giving monthly. They currently have 24 members of the Circle of Giving, compared to roughly five members when it was first started.
Information provided by Katlyn Leid, Development Coordinator and the ECHOS website. echoslancaster.org