The homeless of the DeKalb area will be able to find food and shelter from the winter conditions through the Public Action to Deliver Shelter program.

Andrea Lusin, PADS coordinator for the Newman Center program, said NIU students, DeKalb residents and area visitors who have no place to stay will be sheltered in area churches from Oct. 15 to April 15.

PADS, which is in its second year and completely run by volunteers, offers meals and a bed to those who take advantage of the program, Lusin said. Last year, 400 beds were occupied and 800 meals were served which, Lusin said, showed a need for continuing a program such as this, even in a town of this size.

Those who need shelter will be able to stay at the United Methodist Church of Sycamore Monday nights and at the Salem Lutheran Church Tuesday nights, Lusin said. Thursday nights people can stay at the Newman Center and Friday nights at the Hillcrest Covenant Church in DeKalb, she said.

She said last year, Saturday nights were held at St. Marys Catholic Church in Sycamore. Church members are meeting this week to decide if they will participate this year, she said.

Wednesday and Sunday nights are open, but if someone needs a place to stay, they will be put up at a hotel, Lusin said. Families and mothers with children always will stay in a hotel because it is PADS philosophy that children do not stay in a shelter, she said.

A grant for more than $4,500 from the Illinois Department of Public Aid will pay for the hotel rooms, she said. Previously, funds came from church donations.

Lusin said, “(PADS) is not a social service agency. It is a ministry.” PADS is not pushing religion and the volunteers do not preach. Rather, they offer this service because of their faith, she said.

When a situation or case occurs which PADS is not equipped to handle because the volunteers are not trained, members recommend other agencies which are qualified.

Occupants must abide by several rules which carry over from last year. These include no alcohol or drugs, no weapons, no fighting and no disorderly conduct, Lusin said.