Lancaster Community Shelter

This is a special time for Grace Resource Center. We are celebrating twenty years of serving the Antelope Valley, and now, I am happy to share with you some amazing news. Two months ago, the City of Lancaster asked us to take over operation of the Lancaster Community Homeless Shelter. Catholic Charities has done a great job of operating the Lancaster Community Homeless Shelter for the past twenty one years. They decided not to renew their contract to operate the shelter, so we were asked to compete with the RFP. This past Tuesday, the Lancaster City Council, who actually owns the facility, voted unanimously to award the contract to Grace. The City provides the 10,000 square foot facility and all maintenance to the facility for $1.00 per year. The Shelter has 51 beds, 12 family units, and 20 emergency beds. This is a capacity of 90 to 100 people each night. The annual budget is just over $600,000.00, and $432,000 is provided through the grants being rolled over. This means that we need to raise approximately $168,000.00. There is an immediate need to raise two months operating expenses, as it will take a couple of months to get the ongoing grants rolled over. If there is any way you could help with this once in a lifetime opportunity, we would be eternally grateful. Also, if you would forward this request to others who you think might help, that would be perfect. This has all happened very quickly, so time is of the essence. We are hoping that we can find help from people like you, who already know our track record, to help us. You know of our twenty year history of helping 100,000 people annually. We have always, with your help, met the financial need. Our website shows most of what we do. I will be happy to provide any other information you might need. The best part, of this opportunity is that we will be able to expand our life building programs and classes to the folks in the shelter. We will make this a better, safer, friendlier community, by increasing our capacity to help our people break the chain of poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Thank you, and please let me know if you can help or need more information.