Category: Uncategorized

You don’t need us to tell you that it’s been freezing outside lately. Record-low temps mean it is far too cold for anyone to be outside right now, period. Some chronically homeless individuals have mental-health issues so profound that they can’t discern for themselves whether it is safe enough to remain outside.

Let’s continue to look out for one another.

To get help for a homeless person in extremely cold weather, listed below are all the ways to contact the hypothermia hotline:

202-399-7093

311

1-800-535-7252

uposh@upo.org

The call will take you less than a minute and a hypothermia team will be dispatched to the location of the individual suffering to bring them to a warming center or overnight shelter and deliver items to protect from the cold.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F. Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature passes below 95 F. When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work correctly.

According to DC city records, 4 homeless individuals died from hypothermia in 2016 and 2017. Sadly, a death from hypothermia is a preventable death. YOU can be the difference between life and death for our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness. If you see someone outside in the cold, please call 311.

“A Place to Belong and Feel Safe”

Georgetown Ministry Center is a lot of things. A space for people on the street to wash clothes and take a shower. A support system. A trusted resource. And a place to belong and feel safe.

But don’t just take our word for it. Watch this video to hear from GMC guests and to learn more about our work in the Georgetown community.

Now that you’ve seen our work in action, will you help us to continue to improve the lives of homeless men and women? If you haven’t already, please make a tax-deductible donation by December 31: https://donate.georgetownministrycenter.org/campaign/georgetown-ministry-center-year-end-2017/c149342

Thank you!

We hope you’ll join us in saying, “Bravo, Gunther!” for this well-deserved accolade! Georgetown Ministry Center is grateful for Stern’s advocacy, service and leadership over the past nearly 3 decades.

Renovation on Georgetown Ministry Center’s day center continues! Construction began in mid-October and, at this time, the Center is predicted to reopen sometime in January.

While closed, GMC program staff are hosting a tent outside the Center entrance offering guests coffee, food, toiletries, mail and an opportunity for fellowship.

GMC has also partnered with neighboring congregations, including St. John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Presbyterian and Christ Church Georgetown, that have graciously opened their doors to provide our guests with alternative shower and laundry facilities during specific times each week. Program staff are using the time away from the Center to perform street outreach and make home visits to previously housed guests of GMC.

Upon completion, the newly renovated Center will offer an upgraded laundry room, a new hot water heater, a remodeled shower and bathroom, and a more open and efficient floor plan. Stay tuned for reopening details!