About Us
Emergency
Residence
A place to
sleep, meals and referrals to agencies within the community
Community
Shelter Services, Inc. has provided temporary emergency shelter, meals and
referrals to homeless families and individuals since 1973. The original
location was
Homeless
persons with social, emotional and physical limitations receive emergency
housing, case work services and meals. Referrals are made to
organizations established within the community to help them achieve stable
housing, functional success and economic self-sufficiency.
The shelters staffed 24 hours per
day/365 days a year. Individuals and families with children may be
accepted any time; day or night depending upon the availability of
space. All daily amenities are available and the staff makes every
effort to provide individual clients with specific necessities such as
clothing, transportation and medicine on an as needed basis.
Lodge
On Sass and Columbus Apartments SRO Housing Although residents are responsible for their own meals, a
weekly “family style” meal is provided to promote socialization
and to help stretch their food resources. In addition, an on-site pantry
lends emergency assistance when food personal supplies are depleted each
month.
There is no fee for
shelter services. Most new arrivals have no income and receive no food
stamps. The shelter staff refers disabled clients for entitlement
benefits. Those who are physically and emotionally capable are directed
to seek employment. Income from all sources is monitored in order to
encourage the accumulation of funds needed to establish independent housing
at the end of their shelter stay.
Throughout the years
the agency’s staff noticed the high propensity for recidivism among the
homeless population. CSS now contracts with qualified professionals who provide
the group counseling, education and training needed to promote
self-sufficiency. Clients attend classes regularly; with many of them
receiving certificates for completion of training in areas such as: effective
parenting, building self-esteem, anger management, budgeting and positive
relationships. These experiences help build the skills needed to improve
clients’ potential for independent housing and gainful employment thus
reducing their dependence on charitable systems. Improved parenting skills will
foster a more stable, functional family life-style that promotes the academic
and social success necessary for lifelong success for today’s
generation of homeless children. The positive impact of these training
measures will be more apparent as time passes without future episodes of
homelessness.
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Safe, suitable,
affordable and supportive Section 8 housing for low-income adults 
Community Shelter
Services, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) components provide a total of 90 units
of safe, decent, affordable and supportive housing for single adults at the
Lodge On Sass, as well as Columbus Apartments. Residents have the
benefit of a fully furnished, Section 8 subsidized room with basic household
necessities within an environment that preserves their personal privacy.
The agency, through
donations from a concerned community, provides clothing and other
necessities. Common kitchens and lounge areas are located on all floors
at each of the SRO facilities and laundry facilities are available on-site.
Persons seeking to
live in SRO housing are among the most seriously incapable of managing their
lives beyond meeting their most basic needs. We are continuing to seek
funds to increase our compliment of staffing in order to more effectively
equip ourselves to serve this very challenging special needs
population. Since the inception of Columbus Apartments project in 1987,
CSS has provided a viable housing option to homeless persons who here to fore
have relied on the community’s network of emergency shelters to meet
their housing needs. 
(Around
the clock staffing promotes safety and ensures the availability of support
when needed. For those who are capable, the SRO acts as a stepping stone on
the path to a more stable, gratifying lifestyle. Those who would benefit from
long term supportive housing are welcome to stay on indefinitely.)