Contact The Refuge Lapeer 810.667.3886

The Refuge 
Lapeer

810.667.3886

  • Home
  • about
  • Need HELP?
  • Donate
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • church partners
  • Calendar
  • gallery
  • Financials
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • about
    • Need HELP?
    • Donate
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • church partners
    • Calendar
    • gallery
    • Financials
    • Contact

810.667.3886

The Refuge 
Lapeer
  • Home
  • about
  • Need HELP?
  • Donate
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • church partners
  • Calendar
  • gallery
  • Financials
  • Contact

PARTNERING WITH LOCAL CHURCHES

we need churches and church volunteers

CHURCHES PROVIDE SHELTER NOVEMBER - APRIL

The Refuge Lapeer Homeless Shelter partners with local churches in order to give food and shelter to the homeless of Lapeer County during the winter months of the year. Every November to April, The Refuge Lapeer hosts guests rotationally at Lapeer County churches. Shelter includes bedding/privacy for the night, food, access to clothing, and transportation. The Refuge Lapeer needs churches, church groups, and volunteers to help with hosting and all related services.


Would your church like to help? Perhaps your church is helping already. See below for important documents and sign up forms.

The Refuge Lapeer Homeless Shelter  wordgirl marketing Lapeer web design wendy byard

SIGN UP YOUR CHURCH TO SPONSOR A WEEK

Church Sponsoring

HOW YOUR CHURCH CAN GET INVOLVED


We are a not for profit organization overseen by a board of directors. All participants of The Refuge are volunteers. The Refuge depends upon volunteers throughout Lapeer County to keep this ministry running. We are seeking churches to partner with us by sponsoring a week. 

What The Refuge Provides
Shelter Site:


  • Potential guests must qualify. We schedule intakes before 2 PM based on openings. 
  • Guests fill out intake forms and sign a Guest Agreement.
  • Every night Check-in workers do a pat down, and search. Three trained check-in workers are present each night.
  • A breathalyzer is given every night to each guest.
  • Drug testing is done at random times.


To churches sponsor week:

  • Mandatory training for all volunteers and a quick reference book.
  • All forms needed for hosting: incident forms, volunteer agreement, and volunteer sign in form.
  • Complete manual of all policies and procedures.
  • Support, assistance, and volunteer network to help you plan and implement your week.


What the Sponsoring Church Provides:

  • Sponsor Churches provide volunteers to prepare meals, supervision, and friendship to guests from 6:30 p.m. – 8 a.m. each day during their sponsor week.
  • A listening ear and willingness to share the Good News.​​


For more information, of if you have questions, email us at contact@therefugelapeer.org.

Call The Refuge Lapeer

To get involved, please contact The Refuge Lapeer

call the refuge

important information/sign up forms

What a Coordinator Needs to Know

What a Coordinator Needs to Know

What a Coordinator Needs to Know

This document provides information for Church Coordinators. 

click to see document

Host Church Checklist & Timeline

What a Coordinator Needs to Know

What a Coordinator Needs to Know

This is a checklist churches may use as they prepare to host and while they are hosting. 

click for checklist and timeline document

Host Church Volunteer Manual

Host Church Volunteer Manual

Host Church Volunteer Manual

Volunteers should read this manual and refer to it when questions arise.

click for Volunteer Manual

Volunteer Agreement Form

Host Church Volunteer Manual

Host Church Volunteer Manual

All Volunteers are required to submit this form.

click to visit form

Refuge Host Sign Up Form

Refuge Host Sign Up Form

Refuge Host Sign Up Form

Men and women volunteering should fill out this form as to the days they are volunteering.

click to visit form

Volunteer Sign In Form

Refuge Host Sign Up Form

Refuge Host Sign Up Form

On a daily basis, volunteers should sign in using this form. 

click to visit form

Meal Sign Up Form

Transportation Sign Up Form

Transportation Sign Up Form

People bringing meals should sign up using this form.

click to visit form

Transportation Sign Up Form

Transportation Sign Up Form

Transportation Sign Up Form

People providing transportation should sign up using this form. 

click to visit form

What a Coordinator Needs to know

What you need to know as a Coordinator for Hosting The Refuge

Building- whether you utilize your Church building or another, the building needs to adequately provide these specific areas:


  1. Sleeping area for men- an area that the women/others do not have access to.
  2. Sleeping area for women- an area that the men/others do not have access to      (preferably with a door).
  3. Sleeping area for family (women with children)- an area that men/others do not have access to (separate from other women if possible, with a door).
  4. General gathering area- a space large enough for all the guests and volunteers to gather for the evening before going to sleep. This area may also be the same area for meals if space is large enough. Try to provide a more comfortable environment for this space, provide cards/board games/television/ etc. as your church is able.
  5. Kitchen/Dining- you may designate a separate area for eating if your church is able, it is not required. A full kitchen is not required and is at the church’s discretion on whether guests are permitted to utilize it. 
  6. A Volunteer Only area- a space that only the volunteers have access to for use. In this space you will store the items supplied by The Refuge for your time of hosting: 1. the travel bag (contains guests cigarettes and important forms) 2. A first aid kit (contains basic supplies for first aid) 3. A clean up kit (contains supplies necessary for cleaning up spills/bodily fluids).
  7. Smoking area outside- this space should be an area that can be visible by the      volunteers while guests are outside smoking during scheduled smoke break (smoking time schedule supplied by The Refuge).


In the event you find your Church building does not provide adequate areas for the above listed, please reach out to The Refuge Church Coordinator. There are other options available to ensure that your Church can partner in the ministry of The Refuge, we are more than happy to assist you.


Volunteers- you will be responsible for gathering all the necessary volunteers for each day of hosting The Refuge. You will need volunteers for each of the following categories:


  1. Transportation- a volunteer will transport The Refuge guests to and from The Refuge location each night/morning to and from your church location. No special license is required and the driver is covered under the insurance of The Refuge. A 15 passenger van is provided by The Refuge. This will require both an a.m. volunteer and an evening volunteer each day of hosting.
  2. Meals- a volunteer will provide a dinner each night and a breakfast each morning to The Refuge guests.
  3. Supervision- both a male and female volunteer will provide supervision/ministry to The Refuge guests during time of hosting. Volunteer shifts will run from 6:30pm until 8:00 am the following morning. A breakdown of shifts is up to each individual church, however, you can utilize samples provided by The Refuge.


Rules/Policies- all volunteers are required to read and sign a volunteer agreement form (available online) at least once. Training is available online or in person by request. 

Please be sure to read the available materials online in regards to more detailed information on Host Church Volunteering and any other sample documents that may assist you.


In the event you are unable to gather all of the necessary volunteers for your time of hosting, please reach out to The Refuge Church Coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to your hosting time. We are happy to assist you with your needs. 


The Refuge may hire an overnight security guard when applicable, please be aware that this will be one individual that is not involved with The Refuge that can provide overnight supervision from 12am to 6am only. 


During a possible pandemic- please note that The Refuge is required to follow all guidelines set forth by the CDC. Please visit our website for further information.

The Volunteer Manual

Download PDF or READ PDF PAGES BELOW

church checklist and timeline

Preparing to Hosting and the Weeks of Hosting

   

Refuge Host Church Checklist 

(approximate timeline)

6 weeks 

o Determine schedules

o Post a volunteer sign up sheet, you may create your own or print sample template from The Refuge website.

o Create & post announcements to be used in the church

o Put Refuge week notice in church bulletin/publications

4 weeks

o Schedule all volunteer training-available via The Refuge Website video/manual

o Ensure all volunteers then sign a volunteer agreement form online via The Refuge website

o Determine layout/use of spaces to accommodate guests of The Refuge adequately.

2 Weeks

o Reach out to The Refuge Church Coordinator if you are having difficulties getting volunteers to fill your host week.

o Be sure to print any materials you may need for your host week via The Refuge website.

o Purchase any necessary supplies for meals/meal prep.

1 Week

o Contact current host site coordinator for the week immediately prior to yours (please check your email for a current schedule for the Hosting Season) to arrange for transfer of The Refuge materials. The 2 coordinators will decide how that is to occur. i.e Who picks up or delivers. 

  

Refuge Week

   

Saturday

o Confirm Sunday volunteers

Sunday

o Receive materials for Refuge week from previous church.

o Mats

o First Aid Kit

o Clean Up Kit

o Remove identifying materials from church walls

o Set up Refuge areas

o Post signs

o Confirm Monday volunteers

o Receive guests

o Go over house rules

Monday

o Confirm next day's volunteers

o Receive guests

o Go over house rules

Tuesday

o Confirm next day's volunteers

o Receive guests

Go over house rules

  

o Wednesday

o Confirm next day's volunteers

o Receive guests

o Go over house rules

Thursday

o Confirm next day's volunteers

o Receive guests

o Go over house rules

Friday

o Confirm next day's volunteers

o Receive guests

o Go over house rules

Saturday

o Confirm next day's volunteers

o Receive guests

o Go over house rules

o Confirm Refuge material delivery time for next week's church

Sunday (2)

o Collect soiled linens

o Have guests wipe down mats with disinfectant.

o Pack Refuge materials 

o Have guests help clean & reset rooms for church

o Deliver Refuge materials to next church or make other arrangements with next coordinator.

  

REFUGE HOST WEEK SIGN UP FORM

Download and Print PDF

volunteer sign in form

Download and Print PDF

meal sign in form

Download and Print PDF

WE APPRECIATE OUR CHURCH PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS!

The Refuge Lapeer Homeless Shelter  wordgirl marketing Lapeer web design wendy byard
The Refuge Lapeer Homeless Shelter  wordgirl marketing Lapeer web design wendy byard
The Refuge Lapeer Homeless Shelter  wordgirl marketing Lapeer web design wendy byard
The Refuge Lapeer Homeless Shelter  wordgirl marketing Lapeer web design wendy byard

 

join our email list

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE REFUGE WEBSITE

1009 NORTH SAGINAW STREET

LAPEER, MICHIGAN 48446

810.667.3886

EMAIL US

 Created by Wendy Byard - wordgirlmarketing.com

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept