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<\/p>\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”9px|||||” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_phone=”16px”]<\/p>\n
The doors swung open, and the first families walked in.<\/p>\n
Men, women and children, each of them arrived wide-eyed and knowing that stepping inside this building meant that they did not have to worry about where they would sleep on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Or the next night. Or any night in the near future.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thursday marked a milestone moment for LifeStyles of Maryland because, after years of dreaming, hard work, frustration, encouragement, setbacks and perseverance, we officially welcomed the first overnight residents at our new White Plains Center.<\/p>\n
This emergency shelter provides up to 90 days of safe haven for homeless families with children, as well as elderly homeless individuals. It\u2019s open to Charles County residents and can house up to 25 people while COVID-related social distancing is in place. Ultimately, that number will rise to 50 people.<\/p>\n
It has taken an amazing effort to reach this moment, and now we can begin to see the payoff. When the first residents arrived and set down their belongings beside their beds, LifeStyles CEO Sandy Washington was overcome with emotion and tears welled in her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I always had faith and believed this would happen, watching this caring staff and their interaction with families took that faith to another level,\u201d Washington said. \u201cThank you to Corae Young, our chief programs officer, who has continued to be our strong logistics expert, among other things. A special thank you to the Homeless & Housing Services team led by Maria Scott for helping to get the program underway. Our Board of Directors was instrumental, and I thank them for their guidance, support and resources. We could not have done any of this without them and without so many others.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n The dream for making this shelter a reality goes back many years. LifeStyles has always done all we can with the resources at our disposal to provide housing to those in need. We offer a continuum of emergency, transitional and permanent housing services for Southern Maryland residents, yet it has always been difficult to keep up with the demand.<\/p>\n The need is even greater for families with children and for the elderly because for those populations, stability is such an important factor. The new shelter will offer weeks of reliable housing with warm beds, meals, places to for kids to play or study, and access to supportive services and resources for adults.<\/p>\n In many emergency shelter situations, including our own Safe Nights program in the winter, individuals must leave the facility during the day and return at night to eat and sleep. At the White Plains center, we offer a day program that helps them make productive use of those hours, learning new skills and working toward identifying a more sustainable housing situation.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I will ever forget the happy squeals from children when they saw the Kids Corner,\u201d Washington said. \u201cIt\u2019s a place just for them, where they can do homework or read. There\u2019s an outdoor play area where they can cut loose this summer. I\u2019m just so happy we can have this for them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n We hoped our doors would open sooner.<\/p>\n Getting from where we began to where we are now was a massive undertaking. It required a complete renovation of the building space, transforming it into a fitting, comfortable place for people to live.<\/p>\n It also required coordination with the state and county to ensure that everything we did was up to the strict legal code requirements. While very important, this process is also extraordinarily time consuming.<\/p>\n Throw in the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, and everything became even more complex and time-consuming. But we never gave up.<\/p>\n In recent months, we have worked tirelessly to make the necessary adjustments to pass final inspections and to hire the staff required to manage and operate the shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.<\/p>\n It was an exercise in endurance, patience and faith.<\/p>\n Now we are here, and this dream is realized. It\u2019s only the beginning. This emergency shelter will be an early step in the process of providing Help, Hope and Transformation for all who stay here. It\u2019s the beginning of the continuum that will carry them from homelessness to stability and prosperity.<\/p>\n The goal for every person who walks through these doors is to move them further along the path to permanent housing, eventually to renting and even owning their own home. This is more than a shelter. It\u2019s a part of an all-encompassing program that gives them the knowledge, tools, mentorship and motivation to create positive change in their lives.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sheer number of people and organizations who have played a role in making this happen is so long that I couldn\u2019t begin to list them all, but we are so grateful for every contribution of time, resources and encouragement,\u201d Washington said. \u201cThis is a new beginning. It\u2019s the start of something that we truly believe will have a positive impact on our area for generations to come. We are so grateful that the community came together to fulfill this dream.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”10141,10142,10143,10144″ posts_number=”8″ show_title_and_caption=”off” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” caption_text_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The doors swung open, and the first families walked in. Men, women and children, each of them arrived wide-eyed and knowing that stepping inside this building meant that they did […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n Gus Proctor\u2019s \u201cretirement\u201d lasted all of two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He had only just stepped aside from his role as a sergeant in the Charles County Sheriff\u2019s Department in late August, when he re-joined the department in a new role \u2014 the perfect position for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Community Organizer, Proctor now had free rein to focus his full attention on many of the pursuits that he had already become known for, above and beyond his law enforcement duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The common thread that runs through them all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gus Proctor wanted to give back to the county that raised him. And he wanted to actively encourage others to do the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many will recognize him as the public face of the Special Olympics Torch Run in Charles County, for which he has coordinated fundraising since 2006 and helped the organization raise nearly $1 million in that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also know him for his immense efforts to support LifeStyles of Maryland, specifically our Easter Basket giveaways in the spring and our Toy Drive during the holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s a pride thing because of where I came from,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing in a position to give back just a little, I\u2019m going to do my part to leave this county a little better than where I started here.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Proctor has been working with LifeStyles for more than 15 years now. He was drawn to the organization by Executive Director Sandy Washington\u2019s passion for the community and her commitment to offering a hand up to those willing to work hard to improve their circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What sticks out most in his mind is a conversation he had with Washington just before Christmas a few years ago. She told him that LifeStyles was trying to help 600 families during the holidays but that the Toy Drive had only yielded seven or eight bicycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI said, \u2018Oh, no. We can do better than that,\u2019\u201d he recalls. \u201cThe first bike drive we did, we got over 200 bicycles. Every adult remembers their first bicycle. We need to create those memories again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proctor brings that same drive and dedication to every community effort he supports. He succeeds because he brings a personal touch. He doesn\u2019t work by phone call or email. He gets out into the community, visiting local citizens, businesses and organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they see him walk through the door, they know the effort is sincere. When they hear him talk about the cause, they know that anything they may give will be put to good use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m very transparent,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll let you know exactly what your contribution went to. It\u2019s not going to pay some CEO\u2019s six-figure salary. We put together 450 baskets for LifeStyles. It was so fun. We posed for a picture with all the Easter Baskets. Every one was distributed locally.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Proctor is eager to share the good news and generosity of our community. He regularly snaps photos with donors and posts them to his popular Facebook page, creating an interactive community of people proud to give back and to support each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGus' excitement and compassion are contagious,\u201d Washington said. \u201cYou'll see the banner he uses in many of his photos for LifeStyles. It says, \"Charles County Cares.\" This is true, of course. And one of the reasons that Charles Couny cares so much is that Gus Proctor truly cares about the people of our county, and he inspires others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his new role as Community Organizer, he is free to pursue the feel-good endeavors that he has become known for. He also coordinates the Sheriff\u2019s Department\u2019s role in some of its signature public events, such as National Night Out, the Charles County Fair and Project Graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could not do it without the support from Sheriff [Troy] Berry,\u201d Proctor said. \u201cHe is 1,000 percent in support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the perfect job for the perfect person \u2014 at the perfect time. Like everywhere else during this pandemic, Charles County has many people who are struggling right now. But our community also has a big heart and many more people who are driven to help. Proctor is focused on creating the connections that help make transformation possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis county is one of the most amazing counties as far as giving back,\u201d he said. \u201cCharles County is like no other. It\u2019s simply amazing how we come together and take care of one another.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-staff-and-volunteer-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nPatience and Perseverance is Finally Rewarded<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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