From December through early May, Christ Church opens its Parish Hall each night as part of the Alameda Warming Shelter, offering our unhoused neighbors a warm, dry, and caring place to sleep. This ministry is made possible in partnership with the City of Alameda and Episcopal Community Services, with support from neighboring congregations including Trinity Lutheran and New Bridges Methodist during portions of the season. Guests are welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis and receive more than a place to stay—they are met with dignity, hospitality, dinner, breakfast, and the steady presence of a community that believes care should be practical as well as compassionate.

This year’s shelter also includes evening caseworker support to help guests connect with housing resources, healthcare, transportation, and other essential services. In addition, guests are able to access showers and laundry during the season, extending this ministry beyond overnight shelter alone. Alongside trained shelter staff from Episcopal Community Services, volunteers help make each night possible by preparing meals, offering hospitality, and surrounding guests with the kind of welcome that can restore a sense of safety and hope.

The shelter is jointly funded by the City of Alameda and Christ Church, with the City providing roughly 70 percent of the needed funding and the parish providing the remaining 30 percent. This work reflects Christ Church’s broader commitment to serving neighbors on the margins through tangible acts of care, justice, and community support.