Who We Are

INTRODUCTION

Our story starts way back in 2002, when two kind ladies decided it was time to help…

Nest Community Shelter is a nonprofit organization delivering temporary emergency shelter for the homeless men and women (including women with children) in our community, providing not just shelter but food and other resources. We strive to show every person love through compassion, understanding and dignity.

Community Volunteers

Funds Raised

Mission & Vision

At the heart of our organization is a commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for those in need. Our mission is to offer shelter while actively working to reconnect individuals with their community, helping them regain stability and support. We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to live, and this vision drives everything we do.

Guided by our core values of respect, trust, compassion, safety, and community, we are dedicated to creating a positive, supportive space where individuals can rebuild their lives. By fostering trust and promoting a sense of belonging, we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

Our History

Our Beginning

Nest Community Shelter, formerly Interfaith Community PADS, was initially named Interfaith Community Men’s Shelter, founded in 2002 by two women who were concerned about the homeless men during the cold winter months. They organized churches within the community to share in the responsibility of caring for these men who had no place to go or food to eat.

It started off small but the numbers grew over the years from two men per night to almost 40 men.

Our Growth

Over the years, Nest Community Shelter was housed in numerous churches and saw over a hundred volunteers per season assist in meeting the needs of the homeless community. Compassionate people like Ed Marrion, former director of the men’s shelter, and Harrison Holtkamp, current executive director of Nest Community Shelter, are leading the charge and growing the organization into what it is today.

Under Harrison Holtkamp’s leadership, Nest is now a 501(c)(3) organization, which makes us an official charity and allows us to acquire grants and receive monetary and goods donations. Also under Harrison’s direction we have now established a homeless women’s program, which was desperately needed.

Looking Towards The Future

In 2020, Nest Community Shelter, with the tremendous help of grants, community organizations, and individuals, was able to rehabilitate Sacred Heart Catholic Church and opened it’s doors as a permanent site for La Porte County’s homeless community.

We consider ourselves the first step in a process of recovery. We work with other organizations to meet the homeless population’s needs. Homelessness isn’t curable but we can shorten the duration one spends in a state of homelessness through strong partnerships and hard work.

COME JOIN US