Serenity House to reopen night-by-night shelter Monday in Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — Serenity House of Clallam County has hired a new shelter director, ensuring that its night-by-night shelter will open Monday before the cold and rainy season arrives.

Also reopening Monday will be the Family Services Shelter, which is for families with children who will be housed in apartment-style settings.

Manny Aybar, a longtime mental health and social services provider in San Bernardino County, Calif., was named director of shelter services for the Port Angeles-based nonprofit Thursday.

“He’s got great ideas and fantastic experience, but most importantly he’s got a good heart and the right attitude for this work,” said Doc Robinson. Serenity House executive director.

Robinson told the Shelter Providers Network last month that his agency could not open its night-by-night shelter as planned on Oct. 15 without a director in place.

Aybar, 45, who recently moved to the North Olympic Peninsula from Houston, said he applied to Serenity House after reading about the need for a director in the newspaper.

“The stars were aligned,” Aybar said in a telephone interview.

Last April, Serenity House announced that it would close its three shelters — the night-by-night, family and sober shelters — due to lack of funding.

The sober shelter was closed earlier this year and the family shelter had stopped taking new clients.

After the low-barrier night-by-night shelter closed in June, local churches partnered with United Way of Clallam County and raised more than $40,000 to reopen the facility this fall.

Robinson and the Serenity House board announced Thursday that the adult and family shelters would reopen as planned Monday.

The shelters will provide respite and resources for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.

The adult homeless shelter will offer basic case management, hot meals, showers, laundry facilities and overnight accommodations to help clients regroup and find their footing while experiencing homelessness.

“We’re focused on helping our most vulnerable neighbors break out of the cycle of homelessness,” Robinson said in a news release.

“Our shelters will provide safe spaces, personalized care and the right environment that’s needed to ensure that families and individuals have a chance to reclaim their lives and start anew.

“We are committed to assisting the homeless in our community and have been doing this work since 1982,” Robinson added.

“We had to close the shelter a few months ago, but we regrouped, worked with some great community partners and were able to hire an excellent new director of shelter services, Manny Aybar, who we believe is the right person for the job.”

When reached by phone at his office Thursday, Robinson added: “Thank you to everybody on behalf of the folks who need it in Clallam County.”

Aybar brings to Serenity House more than 20 years of experience working in mental health and homeless services in city and county government.

The California native was a senior program manager for San Bernardino County, which has a population of more than 2 million and stretches from the Los Angeles metropolitan area to the Nevada border.

“I developed a lot of programs over there dealing with tent cites and transitional housing,” Aybar said.

Aybar said Clallam County is similar to San Bernardino County in the sense that it is geographically large and its unique communities have their own sets of challenges.

“I see that our big opportunity is to embrace new ways of thinking and new ways of partnering with our neighbors in overcoming the cycle of homeless,” Aybar said Thursday.

“I think some challenges are going to be bringing everybody together to work towards the same agenda.

The dormitory-style, night-by-night shelter at 2321 W. 18th St. will be open from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Limited van service will be available from the agency’s mid-town location at 6:30 p.m. No formal admissions are required.

The Family Services Shelter offers intensive, family-centered housing and case management services, transportation and employment assistance, officials said.

Admission to the Family Services Shelter primarily comes from housing resource centers and community referrals.

Serenity House, which aims to eliminate homelessness in Clallam County, also plans to open a senior shelter, according to a news release.

“I’m excited to bring my efforts, experience and enthusiasm to partner with our neighbors experiencing homelessness and be part of their recovery process,” Aybar said in a statement.

“We’re putting together a strong team and our focus will be to provide a safe and supportive environment to receive help and spend the night.

“Homelessness is a complex issue and there is no easy fix, but I think if we can provide easy access and a safe place to sleep and stay warm, we may be able to partner with our most vulnerable neighbors as they navigate the system and get the help they need,” Aybar added.

“My team and I are ready to get to work, and I’m deeply grateful to Doc and all my Serenity House co-workers for their hard work and warm welcome.”

The Serenity House Homeless Shelter can be reached at 360-452-7221.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.