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after 25 years, holy angels shelter struggles but continues

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

After 25 years of sheltering the homeless and helping them carry on through difficult times, Holy Angels Shelter in East St. Louis is observing an anniversary.

Originally Holy Angels Parish’s School Sisters of Notre Dame convent, the shelter was opened as a kind of Catholic Worker house, Joe Hubbard, coordinator of Catholic Urban Programs, said.

When volunteers couldn’t be found, staff was hired so that its mission could go forward.

In the past few years, graduates of Holy Angels School have become staunch supporters of the shelter, raising money and donating needed items for those who must stay there to get back on their feet.
Hubbard said the numbers of people needing shelter coupled with cutbacks on grants and recent stockmarket setbacks by regular and generous donors have combined for an almost “perfect storm” to sink the shelter.
“It was in jeopardy of closing earlier this year,” Hubbard said, but a couple of donors came through, and “we have enough money to continue through the new year.”

With the shelter director, Pat Lewis, on medical leave, Quinzetta Wince-Logan, the office manager, is making sure people’s needs are met.

Right now the shelter is full with a waiting list, Wince-Logan said.

One woman, who just moved into the shelter was living in her car with her three children, she added.
“She was ill, had lost her job and exhausted her unemployment,” Wince-Logan said.

Wince-Logan said each year parishes and others donate needed items to the shelter, but because of the economy their donations have decreased along with financial support. Every donation is appreciated, she said.

Her greatest joy is to see former clients out and about and doing well after they were given a little help over their rough spot.

“They make you realize it’s worth it,” she said.

Hubbard said they would like to celebrate the anniversary, but they want to wait until after the first of the year, hoping donations will pick up and they can plan on staying open to assist families in need for the foreseeable future.

If you would like to make a donation, please send checks to Catholic Urban Programs at P.O. Box 3310, East St. Louis, IL 62203