York C.A.R.E.S. Code Blue Shelter

  York C.A.R.E.S.

Code Blue Emergency Shelters

The Mission of York C.A.R.E.S.  is 'To help York’s homeless build stronger, healthier lives through compassionate and essential services' 

The Children's Aid Society - York C.A.R.E.S., York County Coalition on Homelessness (YCCH), along with its community partners, (LifePath, Friends and Neighbors of PA, Inc., Union Lutheran Church, Asbury & Grace United Methodist Church) are planning to provide single male and female emergency shelters for the 2020-2021 winter season (approximately mid December – mid April). This 'cold weather only' emergency shelter is often referred to as Code Blue - the intent is that anyone who is homeless has a place to get in out of the winter weather elements and be safe when certain weather conditions are met. This shelter will support the decrease in existing year round shelter beds and overflow space our community uses during a typical winter, as a result of COVID-19 distancing restrictions.

An Important message from the Code Blue planning team

The Code Blue partner organizations are thankful for the York County Community Foundation & United Way’s COVID19 Response Fund for providing funding to start up the Code Blue Shelters in York City. Code Blue Shelter is intended as additional overnight shelter space for single homeless individuals male & female when certain weather conditions are met. This shelter is not year round, or an every night shelter.

The Code Blue partners understand the weather is turning colder, and this additional space is needed as soon as possible. The Code Blue Shelter planning team must ensure that supplies, staff, volunteers and safety practices are in place before allowing these additional spaces to open.           The Code Blue partners will announce a firm opening date as soon as possible, as well as how to reserve space in the shelter.

The York County Coalition on Homelessness reminds everyone that this is overflow shelter space, and that existing shelters in the community should be contacted prior to utilizing Code Blue shelter.  LifePath Christian Ministries, Bell Family Shelter, YWCA York ACCESS Shelter, and Changing Lives Shelter in Hanover all continue operations and should be utilized as a first option.

Additionally, this Code Blue Shelter space aims to provide shelter to as many individuals as possible, however, this is not a “no-barrier” shelter, and there will still be some restrictions on entry for the safety of the groups sleeping at each host church location.

We know our York County community is anxious to help. If you’d like to assist, please refer to the volunteer job descriptions, the paid staffing roles through the Children’s Aid Society- York CARES, as well as the Winter 20-21 Ways to Help document. These activities can begin immediately, and will benefit our homeless individuals in the community for months to come. Staff and volunteers are vital to each location being able to open!

We appreciate your patience as we begin this work, and look forward to serving the community in this new, and much-needed way. 

Thank you !

We plan to operate two shelters

8:30 pm -6:30 am on declared Code Blue Nights at

Union lutheran Church

408 W. Market Street, (West Market Street entrance), York PA 17401

Ashbury United Methodist Church

340 East Market Street (Reinecke Place entrance), York PA 17403

Providing overnight emergency shelter for single males & females.

A cot, flat sheet, blanket, pillow, temporary 18 gallon storage tote will be provided during your stay with us. 

Pre-registration and clearances are required to reserve a cot prior to 8 pm.

We continue to collaborate with others who have complimentary services to fill the gaps in the community.

How can you help? 

• Praying daily for our work and outreach to the most vulnerable in our community.
• Volunteer to spend a night at the shelter (Must be 18 years of age)
• Hold a drive to collect in-kind supplies for the blessings bags
• Hold a special monetary collection or place us in your funding budget.
• Invite us to come and share our vision for the future with your group.

Wanted: Caring adults who can volunteer 10 hours overnight when the shelters are open in York to be present with those living in homeless, assist with check-in, support shelter overnight site coordinator. Click here for the complete volunteer position description.

To become a volunteer, please complete our volunteer interest form by clicking here.

Funding for the 2020-201 Code Blue Emergency Shelter for Singles has been generously provided

by a grant from the York County COVID19 Response Fund a partnership of the