HANCOCK – People interested in supporting a local homeless shelter are encouraged to attend a second meeting on the topic Monday.

“I am happy to announce we had a great turnout at our first planning meeting this past Friday to discuss starting a rotating homeless shelter here in the Houghton and Hancock area, similar to the Room At The Inn in Marquette,” said John Niemela, who is coordinating the local effort to establish the Copper Country’s own Hope House Homeless Shelter. “Doug Russell, executive director from Room At The Inn, shared their history and what it takes to run a shelter for our homeless neighbors.

“There was great interest in moving forward here locally from everyone in attendance so we will be meeting next week to identify local churches who would be willing to help host the shelter and help recruit community members to volunteer to help the shelter operate smoothly,” Niemela said in an email to those who attended the first meeting last Friday.

The next meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 401 Quincy Street in Hancock.

“I have created a Facebook page for the shelter and for this planning meeting,” Niemela said. “If you get an opportunity please visit both sites and like them and share them with your Facebook friends.”

Hope House Homeless Shelter page is https://www.facebook.com/HopeHouseHomelessShelter/

Homeless planning meeting event page is https://www.facebook.com/events/262968010814874/

For more information and to RSVP for the meeting, contact Niemela at 906.281.2042 or JohnNiemela@gmail.com.