Mel Trotter Ministries

Our group of middle schoolers had a great experience. We were grateful to partner with Mel Trotter and have the opportunity to serve.

This place wakes you up around 6:50 am, then forces you to stay till 9 am if you want to access your belongings from storage and get back in. You can leave as soon as you get up, but then you won't have your stuff that you need. Their heat only seems to be at the proper temperature on certain floors. The main lobby, where we are forced to be if we aren't leaving, is not one of those areas with proper heating. They give you a small blanket and sheet and expect you to be warm enough. Their food quality and quantity are not enough. They have wifi, but you're not allowed to use it. The TV is on only for a certain amount of time and only plays the news. There's no enrichment or any sign of these programs that are offered to help you. Their people that get into those programs are pick and choose and treated with privilege thats not available to anyone else. This place has a teir system or hierarchy you might say. The south side is for the employeed and the north is the hood. In the north you in the trenches. You never know what you might see. Bodys pilled up everywhere of course alive. Their curfew is 7 pm unless you have a reason they find valid. If they find it valid, they put a flag in their system that states you can be out past curfew and come back at whatever stated time and be let in. If you don't have a flag in the system, then after 7 pm, you're not getting in. If you want a place to stay, arrive around 9 am. The reason for this is that the regulars wake up and reserve their beds for the day, and then everyone else who isn't a regular reserves their beds. As far as I know, it's 2 to a room in a bunk bed with a shared bathroom that can be locked from the outside. There are positives to this place, like the quality rooms, laundry, shower services, free meals, and security

If you don't have a family or children they won't help you. You're basically playing pingpong because they'll tell you to call 211 and Salvation Army but even then 211 and Salvation Army's resources are first come first serve. They need to update their website about helping individuals because I've been at the risk of homelessness chronically for the last 3 years and I've received extremely disappointing news through this service.