Homeless families in the Erie community will have a little more help, thanks to Community Shelter Services, 655 W. 16th St.

The organization on Tuesday held a grand opening for two apartments for homeless families who need more time, space and assistance until they find a permanent home.

The units are called the Jane Earll Family Apartments, after state Sen. Jane Earll, of Fairview Township, R-49th Dist., who obtained about $21,000 in state funds for the project.

Kathleen Cancilla, executive director of Community Shelter Services, said the apartments will address the needs of homeless families who need longer-term assistance and more space. Read the rest of this entry »

Carmen Moyet doesn’t know what she would have done this month without the Community Shelter Services school-supply program.

“I was praying that something was going to help me,” said Moyet, 36, an unemployed single parent with school-age children. “Thank God, this program was there to help us. They give us book bags and other stuff I can’t afford.”

But unless more donors come forward soon, dozens of families like Moyet’s (pictured on the left) could go without the school supplies and clothing their children need, just as classes are set to begin at the region’s schools. Read the rest of this entry »