Women and children in Cleveland County who find themselves without a place to stay now have somewhere to turn. Heart 2 Heart Place, an emergency shelter for women and children, opened its doors on Nov. 2, 2015. It is operated by the Women & Children's Division of the Cleveland County Rescue Mission (CCRM) and is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Shelby.
"This is the direction in which our ministry is heading," says Jocelyn Hill, CCRM Director of Community Development. "It is our mission to not only provide emergency shelter and basic services to the under-served, but to provide an appropriate response to the issues of chronic homelessness."
Following a similar model as the men's rescue mission on Buffalo Street, the ladies at Heart 2 Heart Place meet with a case manager and lay out goals and a plan for returning to independent living, Hill explains. Many are enrolled in Adult High School classes through Cleveland Community College. Those that have their High School Diploma can take part in Work Ready certification classes, get help with job searches, and begin to move in the direction of self-sustainability and independence. Children at Heart 2 Heart also receive support through after-school tutoring, mentoring programs and children's church.
As a 24-hour, full-time rescue mission, Heart 2 Heart incorporates not just the physical but also the spiritual needs of the homeless, Hill says. Three meals a day are served from the Washington Street facility, and daily Bible studies/devotionals, arts and crafts classes, along with the job-readiness classes and group conversations help the ladies establish a sense of community with one another. A relapse prevention program called "The Genesis Process" is used to help the ladies work on the behaviors that led them to their current situation and to help them cope with emotions in a healthier way in the future.
Ladies at Heart 2 Heart Place will be ready to transition to the next phase of their living situation after completing the shelter's 120-day program. "Whether that's moving on to our transitional housing program, or out on their own, we will not send a lady out without a plan," says Hill.
Heart 2 Heart Place operators are now asking people in the community to pray about committing to a monthly $30 pledge to CCRM's Women's Division to help cover general operating expenses. "Things like electricity, water and food are recurring expenses at Heart 2 Heart Place, and monthly pledges will help to cover these costs and allow the volunteers and staff to concentrate on restoring the lives of homeless women and children," says Hill. To participate in the campaign, contact Hill at (704) 751-1255.
For more information about Heart 2 Heart, visit the shelter's Facebook page or its web page at myccrm.org/heart-to-heart-place.

By April Shauf, Special to Shelby Shopper