Clifton Night Shelter

In the winter of 1979, a homeless man died from exposure on the streets of Atlanta. It was at the same time that the members of Clifton Presbyterian Church, located in the Lake Claire neighborhood, were in the midst of a Bible Study on Isaiah 58 and Mathew 25:40 when they spontaneously responded to the scriptures commanding people to feed the hungry and house the homeless. That night, they took their vans downtown and convinced three homeless men to come with them. They gave those three men hot food, a shower, and shelter in the sanctuary of the church. That was the beginning of Clifton Night Hospitality, the first faith-based emergency shelter in Atlanta.

Twenty-seven years later, Night Hospitality still provides food and shelter for thirty (30) men every night of the year. The men are provided with counseling, case management, and are taught the self-respect that they need to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. They are encouraged to seek employment and establish good habits for better health.

In 1997, Joe's Place, a transitional house located across the street from the shelter, was established. Named for a mentally ill homeless man who had grown up in the neighborhood, this facility provides an additional resource for the men who have secured employment and are diligently working toward establishing a full life, anchored by living on their own. Joe's Place has capacity for 11 men and they are responsible for paying rent, preparing their own food, and maintaining their living space.

Though Clifton Presbyterian Church closed in 2004, the ministry still continues, sponsored mostly by Presbyterian churches in the Atlanta area. Each night, a church team or individual volunteers will come to the shelter and serve the evening meal to the men, providing them nourishment and hospitality. Volunteers also assist with teaching life skills, keeping the clothes closet full, doing laundry and a myriad of other tasks that go along with providing day-to-day support for 30 men.

In the summer of 2005, the shelter was set on fire by an arsonist. Twice. But the ministry continued and thanks to the wonderful support of Epworth United Methodist church, located in Candler Park, we quickly found a temporary location. We moved back into our home in October 2006, with a remodeled building, new equipment, renewed faith, and a greater vision of what God has planned for this important ministry.

Morningside’s participation:

On the fourth Saturday of every odd month Morningside Presbyterian will provide and serve dinner for the 30 guests at the shelter. Additionally, member Leslie Prince resides on the Clifton board. Finally, we collect needed items for the shelter, including toiletries, hats, scarves, coats, and clothes for work (black pants/ white shirt)..

How you can get involved:

We are in need of people to prepare and serve the meals on our Saturday evenings.The Upcoming date is March 22 . Also, as we post information about various collections, please consider donating needed items for this shelter. Together, we can provide a hot meal and warm fellowship to members of our community in deep need and in so doing share the compassion and mercy of God that we proclaim.

Whom to contact:

If you are interested in taking part in Morningside's work with the Clifton Night Shelter, please contact Becky Carlisle and Nancy Collins n_collins@bellsouth.net, 404.633.6404. The Clifton website address is www.cliftonsanctuary.com