The Inn has doubled its bed capacity from 12 beds to 25 after a recent renovation and expansion. It's Oxford County's only overnight shelter and it's currently averaging about 20 people per night.
WOODSTOCK - The Inn, Oxford County's only homeless overnight shelter has doubled capacity from 12 beds to 25.
Oxford County provided $100,000 for the expansion of the shelter run by Operation Sharing at the Old St Paul's Church in Woodstock. Along with the extra beds, they also increased the capacity at the lounge centre of the shelter and a few other upgrades. The expansion has been in place for one week now.
Interim Director of Operation Sharing Shawn Shapton says the guests and staff at The Inn are very appreciative.
"We have a much larger lounge area now, the shelter has been very similar for the past 14 years and we have been able to really revamp that and really reinvigorate the space, our guests really appreciate it and we are so thankful to our hosts, Old St. Paul's for being such an incredible and gracious host."
Since the expansion, nobody has been turned away and they're averaging around 20 people a night. Previously when they would run out of beds, the County would put up the homeless in a motel. Shapton says this project has really been a collaboration between Oxford County, Operation Sharing and Old St. Paul's.
"We were having to turn people away, with 12 beds, the need was far greater than that each evening, obviously with the colder weather and the need to ensure we have more beds, this has been a phenomenal collaboration between all three parties Oxford County, Old St. Paul's and Operation Sharing."
Anyone who stays at The Inn is offered a warm meal when they arrive, they have showers and laundry service as well. They do not allow drug use or alcohol use at the shelter.
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