Daytona Beach, FL - The First Step Shelter will be open for one month this coming Saturday and the Board is holding their first meeting since the opening today at 4 p.m. Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg says at this time, there are 20 residents. There are 11 women and nine men. Most of them are over the age of 40. She says that number is in line with the plan to add residents slowly. Classes for the residents begin almost immediately, starting with Life Skills. Fahlberg says the class is meant to teach people how to cope well in society and hold down a good job.
Fahlberg is also working with Career Source in order to help the residents with resume help and work skills. She said they are working on figuring out how the help will work, whether the residents will go to CareerSource or representatives will come to the shelter.
With the cooler weather we've been experiencing, Board members will discuss the possibility of First Step also serving as an emergency cold weather shelter. Fahlberg said there are a few concerns about becoming an emergency shelter because the way the shelter is designed, there is no place to let people stay in an emergency that's not separate from the residents' dormitories.
Something not on the agenda is the decision by the Daytona Beach City Manager to not build and pay for the Safe Zone, at least not at this time. Board member Chase Tramont said, "If there's no safe zone, Port Orange will be done." Fahlberg says she does not know the details of the city's decision but for now, it's on hold.
Residents at First Step Shelter are those that want to work with the program. To support the program and everything else at the shelter, Fahlberg said donations are needed. "We really do need the cash donations, as well as the other donations or volunteering because, without that, we really won't be able to keep the shelter going." She also said that she's looking for people who can instruct the residents in things like yoga, other forms of exercise, arts and crafts or really, just about anything. If you'd like to volunteer, call the First Step Shelter at 386-361-3800.
