REDMOND, OR -- Shepherd’s House celebrated its new Redmond Center Thursday at Highway 97 and Veterans Way. The shelter officially opens November 15th. 

Emergency Services Director John Lodise tells KBND News the new year-round facility is a big improvement from the winter-only shelter, “There will be a dinner meal, there will be showers available every night. There will be guest laundry. We'll have a takeaway meal in the morning when they leave at 7 a.m. We also have a clothing closet so they'll have access to warm winter clothing.” The facility will house about 50 people, and also offers computer access to look for jobs and housing.

Lodise says offering these services will make a big difference. “They can come here, they can stay here for as long as they need us and whatever is out there waiting for them beyond, they can take their time that they need to get there,” he says, adding there’s a plan to eventually do more, “We're aiming toward 24-7 next year, we're aiming toward more community meals next year, we're just aiming for more ways to get involved in providing the help that we see people need.”

It will be a low barrier shelter. “You're on the streets, you're in camps, you're looking to start getting shelter and getting connected to services and getting more connected to community. We're right at the front line of that,” he said, adding he’s also concerned the temporary closing of Redmond’s Bethlehem Inn could stall the process for residents ready to transition out of a low-barrier setting, “If they can't open until January or whenever they think they can open, that might delay our guests' ability to move on to the next step from here.”

Lodise and the Shepherd’s House staff expressed gratitude for private and public donations, and contributions to get the Redmond Center renovated at the site of the former Grace Gate Church.