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While temperatures in the sixties made it hard for us to believe it was time for the winter shelter to open, about two dozen staff, volunteers, and shelter residents packed into GMC’s day center on November 4 for a shelter training session. After an afternoon of safety training, the group shared a meal, reviewed important policies, and prepared for a successful winter shelter season.

GMC staff emphasized the importance not only of shelter but of building community and an environment of mutual respect. GMC’s Case Manager, Sabrina Burrell, asked everyone to share their name and something they liked about themselves. We heard about one resident’s guitar skills and another’s love of learning.

The opening of the shelter itself took place at Christ Church Georgetown on November 6. With help from GMC staff, our residents set up cots and checked in with each other. This year marks the 26th year of the program, in cooperation with Georgetown congregations who open their doors to provide safe, warm shelter for 10 residents from November through March. Residents, staff, and volunteers shared a delicious and hearty meal, made by Christ Church youth. Conversation flowed over pasta carbonara, salad, bread, and fresh-baked brownies. After dinner, our residents settled in for the night. The Winter Shelter is officially open, and residents, volunteers, and staff have already begun the deeper work of forming a community.

Interested in helping? Contact Sabrina Burrell. We’re thrilled to have new volunteers to prepare meals, eat with guests, or spend the night.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for you and the rest of our community of supporters. A group of our Day Center guests, volunteers, and staff have a special message for you:

This morning, we all awoke to the news that the nation has elected Donald Trump as our next president. This has been the most contentious and divisive election in most people’s memories. Over the last two years, we at GMC have seen so much progress in meeting the needs of the population we serve. Now, let’s come together and make sure the people GMC supports are not forgotten.

Here are some suggestions we have for our next president:

• One of the reasons there has been so much progress is that housing has been a priority for both the federal and local government. Since the summer of 2015, with the commitment of federal resources, 30 of our guests have moved into permanent housing, with 10 more guests “at the door” of housing and 8 guests whose journey to housing is in progress. Let’s continue this commitment.
• Many of our guests struggle with chronic, severe mental health issues. This summer, the House of Representatives passed the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act with bipartisan support. Let’s keep moving forward on mental health policy.
• Many of our guests also have a variety of other sorts of disabling conditions, including developmental and neurological disabilities. We hope the new president will prioritize their needs as well.
• Many of our guests suffer needlessly because of barriers to treatment in cases of severe mental illness. We at GMC embrace the recommendations of the Treatment Advocacy Center for fixing our mental health care system so it better serves those members of our society who are marginalized by profound brain disorders.

We hope Mr. Trump, with his many policy priorities, does not forget the people who most need our help: those who live on the street and who depend on the rest of society for care and support.

Thank you to those who supported and attended the 2016 Spirit of Georgetown on Oct. 13! 185 guests enjoyed a beautiful evening honoring Patricia Davies for her commitment to helping homeless individuals in Georgetown. With the help of our supportive community showing their Georgetown Spirit, we raised $100,358!

Board President, Alex Bullock, spoke about the importance and the impact of GMC’s Day Center, Winter Shelter and Street Outreach programs. Sabrina Burrell, GMC case manager, shared a recent success story about a GMC guest moving into permanent housing. In the last 16 months, through a massive community effort, GMC advocated for guests and collaborated with other providers to help move 32 people into permanent housing. Nine are at the door of housing and seven are a work in progress. It is the generosity of our supporters that makes this work possible!

Bullock then presented Patricia Davies with the 2016 Freddie, our humanitarian award named to memorialize a homeless man who died in a phone booth in Georgetown and whose death led to the founding of GMC.

Pat Davies has demonstrated unyielding dedication and leadership on behalf of Georgetown Ministry Center since 2007. She is a tireless advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness and has been a leader and a friend to all who are involved with GMC, most importantly to those who depend on the Center for a sense of belonging each day.

So many people were instrumental in the success of this event, and we are grateful. Karen and Bill Sonneborn graciously hosted the event in their stunning home and garden. Event Co-chair, Megan Gabriel, welcomed guests to the Spirit of Georgetown and thanked them for their support of Georgetown Ministry Center. The generosity of our sponsors and event attendees was certainly celebrated as well! We also owe a big thank you to Broad Branch Market, partyhands, Sperry Tents and Washington Fine Properties for their help with the event, and to our corporate sponsors: Walker & Dunlop LLC, CSC Leasing Company, Washington Fine Properties, John D. Richardson Company and Martin’s Tavern.

You can read more about the Spirit on the Georgetown Dish.

We’d love to see your pictures from the Spirit! Please send them to sarah@gmcgt.org

Please take a minute to advocate for better laws for people who are struggling with severe mental illness.  We clipped the entire body verbatim from an email from Mental Illness Policy Org.

An exceedingly important bill may get heard in the Senate this week, but only if enough people who care about the seriously ill, call and email the two Senate leaders today and tomorrow.

Please call the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at (202) 224-2541 and the Democrat’s Senate Leader, Harry Reid at (202) 224-3542 today. Ask them to pass the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (HR2646) which passed the House in a 422-2 BIPARTISAN vote. The Senate can create such a bill by combining the Mental HealthReform Act (S 2680) with the Mental Health and Safe Cities Act (S. 2002).

The point is any mental health bill has to have provisions to help the seriously mentallyill.  That includes more hospital beds, telling the Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration (SAMHSA) to focus on the  seriously ill, funding Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT, Kendra’s Law and Laura’s Law), and fixing problems in HIPAA that allow doctors to shut parents out of helping their loved ones.

After you call, use the email contact form to email your message to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell. Senator Reid’s is at http://www.reid.senate.gov/contact and Senator McConnells is at https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/publ…/index.cfm/contactform

Finally, you  can also tweet to Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) and Harry Reid (@SenatorReid)

Please act today AND tomorrow (Tue./Wed.) Thank you. We are the only ones who care about the most seriously mentally ill so we have to be the ones to make the calls.

Mental Illness Policy Org.
50 East 129 St., PH7
New York, NY 10035
USA