Casa Esperanza’s Winter Shelter Opens

On Thursday morning, December 1, there was once again a line of people outside Casa Esperanza’s main gate, waiting to sign up for its four-month-long winter-nights shelter. As beds are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, those in line were the people who weren’t willing to risk being turned away.

By 2 p.m., 164 people had been guaranteed a bed for the cold, rainy season, though many will not stay the entire time. One hundred of them were already residing at Casa Esperenza, actually, occupying “program beds” or beds given to people willing to work a certain plan of action that will, ostensibly, move them into employment, housing, or both.

By the end of Thursday, the women’s dorm was full, said Casa chief manager Imelda Loza. Two women on a waiting list in the afternoon were ultimately accommodated. That means, unless someone leaves, women seeking shelter at Casa from this point on will be referred to the Rescue Mission.