In its second winter, the Wareham Area Clergy Association’s Nights of Hospitality, a program providing Wareham’s homeless with a place to sleep during the cold winter nights, is struggling to attract the people it wants so desperately to help.

The four participating churches — Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene, First Congregational Church, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Emmanuel Assembly of God — have been trying to attract attendees by posting fliers where the homeless congregate and by advertising in local media and on Wareham Community Television.
“We understand that [people] come with some difficulties, but we’re not trying to solve any of that. We’re just trying to provide a safe place and a good meal,” said the Rev. Robert Richardson of First Congregational Church.

The Rev. Colon Wright, pastor at the Emmanuel Assembly of God and president of the Wareham Area Clergy Association, said the churches usually see between one and five people per night.

Both men and women are welcome and must stay at the church between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. They cannot receive visitors or bring drugs or alcohol.

The churches provide five to six air mattresses and plenty of floor space. Attendees are served dinner in the evening and breakfast the following morning. The program is chaperoned by church volunteers.

Between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m., the Wareham Police Department will provide transportation from the train station on Merchants Way to the participating church.

Though turnout has not been as high as the churches have hoped, “I’m pretty sure we’ve saved at least one life this year from the bitter, bitter cold,” Richardson said.

Nights of Hospitality runs through March 20. The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church will host until Saturday; First Congregational will host beginning Sunday evening.

Full schedule:

1/17 - 1/23: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
1/24 - 1/30: First Congregational Church
1/31 - 2/6: Emmanuel Assembly of God
2/7 - 2/13: Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene
2/14 - 2/20: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
2/21 - 2/27: First Congregational Church
2/28 - 3/6: Emmanuel Assembly of God
3/7 - 3/13: Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene
3/14 - 3/20: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church