On October 22, 2022, more than 60 people gathered to celebrate the BHHS Legacy Foundation Christine Stamper Center for Help & Hope, a shelter operated by Catholic Charities for those experiencing homelessness in Mohave County.
Though the shelter opened its doors three years ago, the ongoing pandemic meant a celebration of the shelter wasn’t possible until this year.
Foundational funding of the shelter was provided by BHHS Legacy Foundation, The Stamper Family and Catholic Charities.
The shelter offers beds for up to 67 individuals, including a separate wing especially for Veterans experiencing homelessness, as well as three separate units where families experiencing homelessness can stay together. The shelter serves three meals a day (hot lunch and dinner are open to anyone), offers showers, computers for job searches, hygiene supplies, a cooling station, laundry facilities and more.
Most critical to helping the unsheltered is the ongoing case management services provided by Catholic Charities staff members who walk alongside the clients to overcome the numerous barriers to affordable housing. Shelter outreach workers also conduct outreach in surrounding areas, including the desert, parks, under bridges and anywhere the homeless congregate. Their goal is to build relationships, provide supplies and offer assistance getting them into the shelter for needed resources and case management.
Special thank you to event speakers:
Catholic Charities President and CEO Paul Mulligan; Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady; Dan Oehler and Jerry Wissink from the BHHS Legacy Foundation; Dr. Blake Stamper on behalf of the Stamper Family; Cindy Stotler, Arizona Department of Housing; Olivia McCormick, Catholic Charities Board Member; and Fr. Dan Vollmer, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, who led a prayer before breakfast and offered a blessing for the shelter.
