Homeless Shelter to Reopen Tonight

After relocating briefly to a site in Pacoima, the Valley Family Housing organization’s winter shelter was expected to reopen at its regular site in Sylmar tonight.

The homeless shelter is scheduled to be open nightly throughout February at the Sylmar National Guard Armory, 12860 Arroyo Drive.

In addition to a bed, the shelter provides users a hot meal and shower from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

Joe Zuniga, program coordinator of the winter shelter program, said the site normally has 70 to 80 people sleeping in shelter beds during the winter months, but during the recent rains, the number increased to more than 90 people per night.

He said the shelter has 150 beds to accommodate people, but no one will be turned away should the numbers get even higher.

Transportation to the shelter is provided from four sites in the San Fernando Valley:

* Valley Community Center, 7843 Lankershim Blvd., in North Hollywood.

* Lutheran Social Services, 6425 Tyrone Ave., in Van Nuys.

* People in Progress, 8140 Sunland Blvd., in Sun Valley.

* Pacoima Community Center, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd.

Zuniga said homeless individuals and families are referred to the shelters by local service agencies, but word of mouth is generally what brings people into the shelter.

In March, the shelter will scale back its services and open only as needed when temperatures are forecast to be below 40 degrees or when there’s a 50% chance of rain.