Upper Room of Erie

The Upper Room of Erie is Erie's only daytime shelter that is available as a shelter 365 days every year to everyone regardless of orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. The Upper Room serves nearly 40,000 visits from those who are homeless and poor each year. The Upper Room serves 70,000 cups of coffee and other drinks each year, distributes blankets (more than 3000), socks and clothes, coats and footwear, free for the asking each year. The Upper Room employs ex-homeless individuals as staff members, and employs a professional MSW social worker to assist clients with everything from housing referrals to obtaining identification. The Upper Room depends almost solely on individual donations and corporate donations rather than restrictive government grants. Goods for the poor amount to nearly $250,000 yearly distributed in free hygiene and clothing, food items, and safety winter items.