WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Keystone Mission has announced the closure of two homeless shelters in our area. Hundreds rely on these shelters for resources like food, water, and a place to stay, but now they'll be forced to find somewhere else to go.
People 28/22 News spoke with in Wilkes-Barre were emotional about the closure, but more than anything, they're worried about what it means for Wilkes-Barre's homeless population going forward.
"This place is hope. You know, it don't matter if you're alone in this world or any of it. As long as you got hope and there's a will, then there's a way," Wilkes-Barre resident Joshua Ervin told 28/22 News.
A source of hope for many will soon be a thing of the past.
Keystone Mission announced early Tuesday afternoon it would be closing two shelter locations, one in Scranton, the other in Wilkes-Barre.
The Wilkes-Barre location on North Pennsylvania Avenue is set to close in four weeks.
Attempts to reach the mission's director were unsuccessful, but Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown says the shelter is closing due to a lack of funding.
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"As far as I knew, everything was fine, everything was going well over there, and then to get a phone call from another news source that said, you know, 'They're closing, Mayor, what do you think?' It's just shocking to me," Mayor Brown said.
The shelters offer resources to those in the community who need them most. From the basics like food, water, and shelter, to tools like addiction recovery and housing assistance.
For one man we spoke with, these resources allowed him to get back on his feet.
"I went from being homeless, sleeping in my car, to sleeping here. And then eventually, as time progressed, I got my one job, they got my bus pass, I got my phone back active," Ervin added.
We reached out to Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti regarding the Scranton location's closure, who issued the following statement:
The loss of Keystone’s services is unfortunate. In Scranton, we have formed strong relationships with multiple agencies focused on assisting the unsheltered population. Our Unsheltered Action Group meets regularly. We have already been planning for next year’s Code Blue and are working with service providers to fill the weekend dinner gap that Keystone leaves.
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti
But until those gaps are closed, many in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre will be without the resources they need to help them get back on solid ground.
"I've gotten back up on my feet enough thanks to this place where I'll- I'll be okay. Is it going to be okay for most of the people that use this place for a means to sleep? Probably not," Ervin continued.
There is no word on when the Scranton location is set to close. Keystone Mission's other Wilkes-Barre location near Sherman Hills will reportedly stay open.
