The Foundation Shelters addresses the very basic needs of our Community’s most desperate citizens, the homeless. Most of our homeless residents are men with long term social and health problems that cause their homeless status. Occasionally someone with a short term problem needs our help.

While most residents are men, we usually are accommodating three or four women and occasionally mothers with children. The shelter facility is designed to totally separate women and children from the male population.

We can house 25 residents, Men's shelter capacity is 16 and women's shelter is 9. We average about 16 residents but at times we are completely full.

A bed is supplied in a warm, safe environment free of cost. Lunch and dinner are provided free of charge at the Foundation Dinners which is located 2 blocks from the shelter.

The Shelter opens at 8:00 PM in the warm season. When fall arrives and the evenings get shorter and colder the doors open at 5:30 PM, immediately after the Foundation Dinners meal. This change of opening time occurs when daylight savings time takes place.

The Foundation Shelter is a non-profit Ohio Corporation.  All gifts are tax exempt as the shelter is a 501c3 Agency

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Director: Jerry Waits

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Our Mission

1. To provide merciful relief to the suffering part of our community.

2. To provide opportunity for the community to serve the suffering.

The Foundation Shelters is dedicated to responding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ*. He calls upon each follower to respond to the needs of the downcast with a merciful heart, supplying not only words, but also and most importantly, deeds.  *Matthew 25:31-46

Any church, individual, business, industry, school or court system that believes in expressing compassion to the victims of poverty and neglect, are invited to join in this effort to relieve human suffering.

Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering, we will partner you with an experienced innkeeper to learn how the shelter operates. Giving just a few hours of your time can make the difference in someone’s life. Please call  740-653-1960 during office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. After office hours Jerry Waits can be reached at 740-215-5610.

History

The Foundation was started in 1990 as the vision of Ed and Carol Clum. Gary, Ed's son, felt compelled by Jesus' Parable of the Feast (Luke 14:16-24) to have a banquet for needy people in Lancaster. After the banquet and mission trips to Brazil and Guatemala, Ed and Carol felt the Lord leading them to help vulnerable people in Lancaster. They decided to use a building Ed owned on Fifth Avenue and started inviting people off the street for a meal on a weekly basis. Before long Ed and Carol saw the need to feed people daily. The Hustler family was instrumental in helping in those early days and have faithfully continued to serve every month. Area churches became involved and The Foundation Dinners grew rapidly.

Seeing the need of shelter for the homeless population in Lancaster and Fairfield County, Ed Clum decided to create this separate organization and opened The Foundation Shelters in 1995. With a heart for the needy, Gary Clum stepped in to take over the Dinners in 2006 so that Ed could focus on the Shelters.

Ed Clum based the name on the foundation of the Bible and has dedicated his life to responding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He says, "Jesus calls upon each follower to respond to the needs of the downcast with a merciful heart, supplying not only words, but also and most importantly, deeds."  Read Matthew 25:31-46 and know that when you serve the least of these you are serving Jesus.

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Board of Directors

Ron Enlow – President

Bill Ashton – Vice President and Assistant Director

Tom Underwood – Treasurer

Jerry Waits –  Director

Steve Templin –Staff & Resident Services Director

Dave Tingler – Member

Carol Craft – Member

Jean Azbell – Member

Support

It takes a lot of different kinds of resources to operate a shelter.

Volunteers (to serve from 5-8pm)

Innkeepers (to stay the night)

Paper Towels

8 oz foam cups and cereal bowls

Socks

Underclothing

Coats & Sock Caps in the Winter

Shoes & Gloves

Personal Item Packets

Single Bed Sheets & Pillows

Towels & Wash cloths

Washing Detergent

Cleaning Products for the Building

Financial Donations

We count on your support to pay our bills. We rely upon generous churches, businesses and individuals to provide us with what we need financially. The community has supported the shelter for the past 24 years in addition to providing the funding for our shelter building which is free and clear of all debt. The Board of Directors of The Foundation Shelters believes in faith this financial support will continue.

Send your tax-deductible financial donation to:

The Foundation Shelters

800 W. Sixth Avenue

Lancaster, OH 43130

Thank you for your trust in us to use your gifts to further the operation of the shelter that provides comfort for the homeless. We will provide you with a statement for tax purposes at the end of each year.

IRS Form 990EZ  Information

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Policies

The Foundation Shelter serves Fairfield County residents and residents of adjacent rural counties that have been referred by a church or public social service agency. Application information must include name and date of birth.

Shelter doors open for check-in at 8:00 pm in Daylight Savings Time and 5:00 pm the rest of the year. All parcels, backpacks etc. must be inspected and heat treated before being admitted to the shelter. Food or beverages other than water are not permitted inside the shelter buildings.

Leaving shelter grounds after checking in for the night is prohibited. Arrivals after 9:30 pm are not admitted. Residents may not have visitors in the facility. Showers are provided between 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm. Smoking is permitted in the designated outside areas only.

Anyone under the influence of alcohol or other substance that impairs their behavior will be evicted. A breath test reading in excess of .07 will result in eviction. Refusal to test will result in eviction.

Clothing, reading or viewing material and language must be respectful and modest. Profanity is prohibited. Male and female residents are in different buildings and are not to interact on shelter property. Children must be with a parent at all times. Disruptive behavior will result in eviction.

Lights are out from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM Residents must remain in their bunk unless using the restroom. Residents can get up earlier to be on time for work or school but must have clothing and other needed items laid out the night before in advance to minimize disruption to those still in bed. Lockers are off limits and operation of cell phones or other electronic equipment is prohibited after lights out.

Bunks must be made each morning. All personal items must be stored in locker

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