Shelter
Your Home Away From Home
If you find yourself on the street and have no one to turn to for help, one of the most compassionate options available is the Christian Shelter located at 334 Barclay Street in Salisbury, MD. Our emergency shelter is dedicated to providing safe housing and essential support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
To begin the process, simply call us at 410-749-5673 to check the availability of a room or bed for you and a significant other. If a space is available, you will be welcomed to the shelter, where you will undergo an intake process with a staff member who will assist you in getting settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Either call the Christian Shelter at 410-749-5673 or simply stop by the shelter at 334 Barclay Street, Salisbury, MD, during the daytime hours, from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM to speak with a staff member.
334 Barclay Street, Salisbury, MD 21804. Click here to go to a page with a map.
To avoid duplicating services that already exist, the shelter works closely with other community agencies and workforce development groups that provide employment opportunities and possible training for those who seek help.
The names of the guests who stay at the shelter are kept confidential. Anyone who wishes to contact someone they believe might be staying at the shelter may call and speak with a staff member or leave a message. If the person is at the shelter and can be identified by the staff, they’ll get the message and can call you back.
Again, the shelter works through other local agencies that can assist Christian Shelter guests in finding more permanent housing during their stay at the shelter.
Each day, all guests can have a full breakfast at 7:00 AM, lunch at noon, and a hot dinner at 5:00 PM, which is served in the dining area of the shelter. For guests who have jobs during the day and are not at the shelter, a bag lunch will be provided for them to take with them to work.
If you’re an adult (18 years or older) experiencing homelessness in the lower Eastern Shore area (Wicomico, Somerset, Worcester, Dorchester counties in MD or lower Delaware) and need a safe place to sleep and access to meals, showers, and basic support services, your FIRST STEP is to contact the Christian Shelter at 410-749-5673 or by coming to the shelter at 334 Barclay Street in Salisbury, MD.
You will meet with a staff member and complete an intake assessment. Based on the information gathered through the intake process, you may be assigned to a room or a dorm area of the shelter and given the opportunity to work for up to 30 days with staff and volunteers who can refer you to local service providers depending on your needs.
House Rules
The Christian Shelter Incorporated (“Shelter”) is a Christian facility focused on “Christ Preeminent” in all things. All guests are expected to cooperate with staff, volunteers, and other guests by practicing Christian principles. These rules must be abided by to maintain the safety and welfare of all guests, staff, and volunteers. Disregarding any of these rules is a cause for dismissal from the Shelter.
Expectations Of Guests
Guests are only allowed to bring 7 days’ worth of clothes. At checkout, guests must take their clothes with them. Decent and appropriate clothing/attire shall always be worn. Inappropriate clothing/attire such as tank tops, halters, short shorts, or pajamas are NOT permitted. This includes hallways and “common” areas utilized by men and women.
Exception: Pajamas may be worn to bed in the dorm at “lights out” time.
Since we are a temporary shelter, immediate plans must be made to resolve your crisis.
a. Within two (2) weeks of your check-in date, you must have steady means of paid employment, provide evidence of a diligent daily search for such employment, or provide a specific, reasonable, and achievable plan for obtaining stable housing.
b. If you have a job, you must inform the Shelter of your work location and schedule and whether lunch is required for each workday.
You are expected to arise when awakened, promptly attend to necessary hygiene needs, and be ready for breakfast by 7:00 AM. Beds are to be made daily and neatly. Your assigned area is to be kept clean and neat. Each guest is expected to always maintain a high level of personal and area cleanliness.
Daily tasks will be assigned to each guest. Morning tasks must be completed by 8:30 AM, while nightly tasks must be completed by 9:00 PM. A positive, appreciative attitude is desired when performing your assigned tasks. Please read the list of duties posted on the board.
Guests are not required to exit the Shelter every day, but guests are expected to promptly pursue their agreed-upon “entrance plan” steps to improve their situation. Guests should be pursuing these steps daily, including Housing, Employment, Social Services, Transportation, Obtaining Identification Cards, Meeting with agents of the Court, or otherwise taking steps to achieve the “entrance plan” goals agreed upon during Intake to the Christian Shelter, or other goals subsequently mutually agreed upon with the Administrator or Executive Director. Guests who are not pursuing steps to achieving their “entrance plan” goals will be asked to leave the Shelter.
Devotions are mandatory. Morning Devotions begin at 8:00 AM, and Evening Devotions are held every evening at 6:45 PM. Sunday morning Devotions are at 10:00 AM. Tardiness and missing devotions will not be tolerated.
You may attend a Christian Church of your choice for Sunday Morning Worship, but a church bulletin for that morning service signed by the pastor of the said church must be returned to our office as proof of attendance.
A guest desiring to attend a Christian Church meeting during the shelter’s scheduled devotions period must request permission from a Shelter Administrative Staff prior to attending any such meeting. The Special Event Escort Instructions shall apply in all such cases.
Guests may be required to vacate a family room without prior notice if the room is being utilized by a single person(s) or a smaller family in a room meant for a larger family—and a larger family becomes a guest of the Shelter. Another Family Room will be provided if a smaller family must be moved to make room for the larger family.
The Day Room, Dining Hall, and your assigned sleeping quarters are the only rooms you are allowed access to. Access to any other rooms in the shelter is only permitted if the Shelter/Office Staff has directed a guest to access, or
a. Given a guest permission to be in any other area within the shelter.
b. And permission has not expired. The staff/office permission is temporary and expires the same day at curfew.
If you meet all the expectations and follow all the rules as outlined, you are permitted to stay at this shelter for up to ninety (90) days. Once you leave the shelter, you are prohibited from re-admission for a term of six (6) months, unless approved by the Administrator and Executive Director
All guests and families are expected to be in their rooms and in bed promptly at 9:00 PM unless they are working.
Conduct
Curfew for all guests who are NOT WORKING a night shift is 9:00 PM. Exceptions to this curfew must be authorized in writing by the Shelter’s Executive Director.
a) You must be inside the shelter by 9:00 PM.
b) All rooms are self-contained and alarmed.
c) Doors are locked, and those who are not inside by curfew, unless working, will not be allowed in.
d) Anyone not in by curfew will be automatically checked out and cannot be re-admitted unless the Executive Director chooses to reverse the decision. Once you leave or are checked-out for curfew violation or any other reason, there is at least a six (6) month waiting period to return.
e) For guests who are listed as a DNA (DO NOT ADMIT), their DNA status must be approved by the Administrator or Executive Director. Future readmittance of a DNA guest must be approved in writing by the Administrator or Executive Director. Written approval for readmittance must be kept in the guest’s file.
f) Alcohol and Drugs: Use of alcohol and drugs (including medical marijuana), other than prescription drugs prescribed specifically for you by a licensed independent practitioner, are expressly prohibited.
g) Use of alcohol or drugs (including recreational marijuana) not prescribed to you will result in immediate dismissal from the shelter property.
h) Guests understand that staff may administer a random alcohol and/or drug test at any time they deem appropriate.
Failure to comply with an alcohol and/or drug test may result in immediate dismissal from the shelter property.
a) Medical Marijuana: Any guests prescribed medical marijuana must submit documentation. Medical Marijuana that is inhaled by smoking or vaping is prohibited on shelter property.
Medical Marijuana taken orally such as edibles or pills must be approved by the Administrator or Executive Director and secured and administered as described in the prescription drug section of these house rules.
Children are expected to be under the control and supervision of their parent(s) or legal guardian in all areas of the shelter. Children are not to be left in the care of staff members or guests at any time for any reason.
a) Children should be in the bedroom area by 9:00 PM.
b) If a child is in truant status due to excessive absenteeism or not regularly attending school, their parents will be required to go to parental classes or counseling.
We welcome all visitors. Upon entering the shelter, visitors must present themselves at the office to be greeted by staff.
a) Visitors are allowed to stay for one (1) hour. Visitors are welcome to attend nightly devotions.
b) Visitors are required to respect devotion leaders, be courteous to guests, and obey directives and instructions from staff members.
c) Visitors are NOT allowed in the sleeping dorm areas at any time.
d) Guests are responsible for the behavior of their visitor(s).
Guests who are husband and wife must provide a true copy of a valid marriage license upon checking in to the shelter. If they cannot present a true copy of their marriage license, then they must present a valid form of identification (state driver’s license) that displays their marital name.
Christian Shelter operates on a strongly held belief that the marriage relationship has been established by God as a union between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31).
Christian Shelter further holds that, in accordance with Scripture, sexual intimacy and sexual activity is appropriate only within the marriage relationship, between one husband and one wife. (I Corinthians 7:2; Hebrews 13:4).
Christian Shelter believes God has created two distinct and complementary genders, male and female, and each person is created in accordance with God’s perfect design (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 19:4). Accordingly, Christian Shelter views the following behaviors as inappropriate and contrary to Scripture:
a) Any sexual intimacy or sexual act between individuals who are not married to one another.
b) Any marriage or civil union that is not between one man and one woman.
c) Any attempt to adopt or present as a different gender than that assigned at birth.
d) Any other activity, teaching, or behavior that is contrary to a biblical view of marriage, gender, and/or appropriate behavior as outlined in this provision. All guests of Christian Shelter and all individuals involved in Christian Shelter operations, activities, and events are expected to uphold the ministry’s perspective on marriage, gender, sexual intimacy, and appropriate behavior as set forth in this provision. Individuals and organizations who desire to use Christian Shelter facilities must also act in accordance with this provision.
Respecting one another is a value that the Christian Shelter takes very seriously. Any bodily contact not essential to the conduct of normal daily activities between and among unmarried persons of the same or opposite sex, either in the Shelter or on Shelter grounds, is strictly forbidden.
Inappropriate public displays of affection between married couples, involving physical contact, should be confined to inside the Family Room locations. Guests who are not married need to refrain from any type of inappropriate contact within the Christian Shelter.
Safety and Personal
Guests and staff members may NOT carry, possess, or have weapons on their bodies at any time. This includes guns, knives, and any other item(s) that can be used or construed as a weapon. If you arrive at the shelter with a weapon in your possession or on your person or obtain such an item while you are a guest at the shelter, you MUST surrender the item to office staff immediately.
Tampering with the fire alarm or security system will result in immediate removal from the shelter property.
Theft of others’ possessions is strictly forbidden. It will not be tolerated and will result in immediate removal from the shelter property.
Disclosure to staff of any communicable disease, such as but not limited to tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles, chicken pox, STDs, AIDS, and COVID, is required at check-in, or if you receive such a diagnosis while you are a guest at the shelter. Failure of complete transparency in disclosing any communicable disease may result in immediate dismissal from the shelter property.
Guests are not allowed to tamper with the mail, and if they’re caught, they will be dismissed from the shelter by the Administrator or the Executive Director.
Meals
Meals are provided in the Dining Hall as follows:
- Breakfast is served daily at 7:00 AM. Doors will be closed at 7:15 AM.
- Lunch is served daily at 12:00 noon. Doors will be closed at 12:15 PM.
- Dinner is served daily at 5:00 PM. Doors will be closed at 5:15 PM.
Bag lunches are provided to all children of working parents and verified workers. Please plan to pick up any lunch prepared for you by the assigned office staff.
Health
All prescribed medications must have the guest’s name on the label, and the physician’s name and dosage should be clearly displayed on the label. All prescriptions must be turned into the staff at check-in.
There is a Contaminated Body Fluids Spill Cleanup Kit available in the Shelter’s office bathroom.
a) This kit must be used in the event of a bodily fluids spill. Rubber gloves are also available in the office and must be used when cleaning up any such spill.
b) All such waste must be removed, placed in a sealed plastic bag, and disposed of outside, in the shelter’s waste dumpster on the Baker St. side of the building.
The Shelter has a check-in procedure to prevent the entry of bed bugs. The shelter also has requirements for guests and visitors’ daily re-entry to the shelter to prevent the entry of bed bugs. All guests and visitors are expected to observe these procedures.
Guests or visitors may not bring food or beverages into the shelter, except as specifically authorized by the Executive Director or staff in his absence. No food or beverages are allowed in the Dormitories, Family Rooms, Dayroom, Computer Room, Respite Room, or Living Area.
The schedule for linen laundry is as follows: Monday for men and family rooms located on the men’s side, and Wednesday for women and family rooms located on the women’s side. Bring your shelter-issued bed sheets, towels, washcloths, and pillowcases to the office for inventory before 8:30 AM. Leave your pillow and folded blanket on your mattress. Clean linens in the same quantity as you turn them in will be issued back to you.
Smoking is prohibited on shelter property, including in stairways, walkways, porches, and grounds. Any guests caught smoking within the shelter and outside the designated smoking area will be immediately dismissed. All smokers will smoke behind the shelter only and are not permitted to smoke anything other than tobacco products. All guests must leave together and come back together. See office staff for the smoking schedule.
All pets are prohibited from entering this shelter.
Financial
Guests are required to report all income they receive and show proof. Guests who are employed are required to submit work schedules and paycheck stubs. You are required to save 80% of all finances, which will be put up for safekeeping. All saved money will be returned to you upon your departure. This money may be used to help resolve your housing crisis. Any guests who are employed or receiving income that fails to turn in 80% of their income may be dismissed from the shelter.
a) The Business Manager maintains the security of your account and distributes monies as necessary to meet emergency needs only. This is only done during the normal and general hours between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM from Tuesday through Thursday.
b) The Business Manager will return all your saved monies to you upon your check-out or as directed by the Administrator or Executive Director.
c) In the event a guest is asked to leave for whatever reason and they have saved money, the Administrator or Executive Director should be notified to give the guest their saved money.
d) Guests who fail to disclose proof of income of any kind may be dismissed from the shelter.
Guests who are employed or receiving income are responsible for laundering (washing and drying) their personal laundry OFF PREMISES, using monies from their 20% expendable income.
General Rules
Guests are allowed to have their cell phones in their room. However, guests are restricted from using their cell phones anywhere else within the shelter. Use of their cell phone is limited to within the guest’s room, or outside of the Christian Shelter. Use of personal electronic devices such as tablets, radios, computers, iPods, CD players, portable TVs, etc. are restricted within this shelter. All such items must be given to the office staff at check-in and each day at re-admittance.
a) Thereafter, your property will be returned to you each day upon your departure from the Shelter or upon your check-out.
b) The showing of videos or the playing of CDs or other entertainment systems on shelter equipment shall require prior viewing and approval by either a Board Member, staff, or the Executive Director before it is viewed/used by guests or volunteers.
Gambling and any type of ADULT card playing are strictly prohibited in the shelter or on shelter property.
Pornographic materials (such as adult magazines, etc.) and/or occult materials are strictly prohibited and will be confiscated if found or discovered.
While a guest, you may not obtain food assistance from Salisbury Urban Ministries or any other such sources.
Any guest who willfully destroys shelter property will be asked to leave immediately and will not be allowed to return under any circumstances.
Guests are not allowed to use any type of dye in their rooms.
A copy of these rules is available in each Dormitory and Family Room for your convenience and referral. You will be asked at check-in to read and then sign these rules and statements.
Let Us Know How We Can Help
Christian Shelter is not just a place to sleep in; it serves as a temporary haven where dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to connect guests with community services that can aid in their journey toward stability.
Our mission is to provide not only immediate relief but also the resources and guidance needed to help individuals get back on their feet. Whether it’s finding employment, securing stable housing, or accessing counseling services, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
