Staff at Aid for Friends Homeless Shelter, in Pocatello, ID Help Clients Ascertain Needs

Aid for Friends, the only co-ed homeless shelter in Pocatello ID works toward being an outlet for lower income and homeless citizens. The services they provide include community dinners and showers, month-by-month food boxes, hygiene kits and occasionally the giving of blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows if there is a surplus of these items.

Employees hope to help for the common good, and do their best to fulfill the needs of each and every client. Although clients are infrequently turned away for usage of illegal drugs and alcohol, or for failure to provide proper documentation, staff at Aid for Friends are trained to direct clients to resources, such as to rehabilitation programs, that may be able to help them so that they won't be turned away again in the future.

Aid for Friends works hand-in-hand with other non-profit organizations, such as the Southeastern Community Action Agency, or SEICAA, and The Salvation Army. Aid for Friends only provides dinner to shelter clients, but staff will refer clients to these other organizations for breakfast, lunch and for other services.

This organization throws an annual overnight event, called an Encampment, where clients are provided with the opportunity to learn winter survival skills and to eat a free warm meal, whilst also benefiting the shelter by contributing donations. If community members do not want to participate in the overnight portion of the Encampment, but still want to help the cause, they may donate to any member of the Aid for Friends board, or online at gofundme.com.