"THE PROS AND CONS OF CHOOSING THE SHELTER OPTION" PART 1 "THE CONS"

There is always a Ying and a Yang to everything. True also of the pros and cons of choosing to stay in a shelter vs shelling out money for a hotel/motel long term. In any given situation you have to store your belongings which translates in more $$$. Here's a tip...most storage facilities want you to choose them to store your goods. Therefore they may offer the 1st month free or in the case of my sister and I, we had to pay just $1. Actually I splurged and paid it since most of the things were mine. Unloading a truck CAN be as complicated as loading one...but in reverse. I will explain how this was accomplished separately in another post because it was indeed an adventure all on its own. Now back to the topic...pros and cons of choosing a shelter. What may be pros for some may be cons for others and vice versa, so these are my opinions from my perspective. 

Lets start with the Cons...just like meds its always best to get this out the way and eat the cake last...smiles

1. Most shelters will want you to participate in something...no lazing around and watching the telly or snoozing all evening. That means chores, etc

 (see #4)

2. You will probably not be able to eat complete meals whenever or wherever you choose although you may be allowed to have snacks.

3.MSH had a bag check point. A long line often formed but all bags and purses were checked before you could go to your dorm. This is for your own safety so its best. Technically can be considered a plus but many people couldn't stand it.

4. You have to  attend church service every evening at 7.30 pm. The shelter for men had optional Bible study times and bused them to church service if they chose. The women were also bused on Sunday mornings if you chose or you could attend services there. Different churches came to do the services.

5. Five days a week you must get up early...they flash the lights and loudly wake each dorm up. Bad for me because I don't like to be woke up. I used to get up ahead of time on my own, get a shower and start getting dressed.

6. Which brings us to point 6. Get dressed for what? Monday through Friday you have to leave the shelter and stay out until the designated check in time. There is a method to this madness and it is actually a plus as you will see in Part 2 of this post. The great thing about MSH is that you left everything in your dorm and then each one was locked. Just like in the small town shelter I mentioned before.

7. Many shelters require you to take everything you own with you daily when you leave. Not great if you have a lot of things. If you have a storage leave all you can in there. If you have one close by like we did you can actually visit it when you need to.

8. The reason you are required to take your things with you, is because many shelter fill up on a first come first serve basis. MSH gave you a bed for 30 days with a possible extension under certain circumstances. 

These all the cons I could think of at the moment. Some actually are pluses in disguise as you will  learn in Part 2 "THE PROS AND CONS OF CHOOSING THE SHELTER OPTION" "THE PROS"