The rectory was undergoing renovations, and the four used leftover cardboard to block themselves from the wind.

Later, Lewis found three more homeless in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church dumpster. And three more were sleeping across 88th Street from the church at the cemetery.

Lewis said that convinced the parish that they needed to help.

“They were already here on the property, sleeping in the yard,” he said. “Regardless of what you think of them, they are not trash, they are human beings. You cannot just wish them away.”

Lewis admitted not everyone was excited about opening a shelter at the church.

“They want to help, just not in my back yard,” Lewis said. “They look to somebody else. We couldn’t do that because they are here. They showed up for us to help them.”

He called O’Dea High School in Seattle to find out how they operate a shelter in their cafeteria every night in the winter.

St. Mary’s decided it could open a shelter one night a week. They decided on Friday because that’s when most of the 100 volunteers said they could work.

One of the volunteers, Willie Cardona, is a cook.

“It’s sad to see their situation, but we can give them a leg up, a safe place to sleep and a nice meal,” Cardona said. They are “just like anybody else, through no fault of their own at times.”

Not only do volunteers cook dinner and breakfast, homeless also take with them when they leave a sack lunch of fruit, water, energy bars and sandwiches.

The helpers show up around 6 p.m. In the cafeteria they put out cots, mattresses, blankets and dividers to separate men, women and women with kids.

The homeless show up around 7 p.m. and eat a hot meal. They go to bed at 10 p.m. and awake at 6 a.m. They eat breakfast then are sent on their way.

The first night the shelter opened, Jan. 9, they had four homeless. But as word got out that number grew to 14.

With Mayor Jon Nehring helping to speed up the permitting process, the church got the shelter going in just about a month.

“My dream is that other churches will participate and take another day,” Lewis said. “We can’t really do it here yet every day. Everybody should do something to help these people.”

He said the community is helping the night become a success. While the church has put $3,000 into it, many donations of food are coming in, and a laundry service has agreed to wash linens for free.

Lewis said while 10 percent of homeless want to be that way, for 90 percent it is “just life. They are us. We are not that much different. It doesn’t take much” to end up homeless.

Lewis said he is proud the parish took on the mission.

“It’s not me playing goody two shoes,” he said.

Lewis said he didn’t want to run the homeless off to Everett where there are more facilities if they want to live here.

He referred to the bible verse of Matthew 25:35, which reads: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

“Before we didn’t see them. They were invisible,” Father Lewis said.

Homeless appreciate new shelter

Dusty Stogdell, who has been on the streets since Jan. 16, said he was treated really well at St. Mary’s. Along with the night stay and meals, Stogdell received a bed and food for his cat, Zander.

“They’re generous, giving, thoughtful, helpful and spiritual,” Stogdell said. “This is really nice that they set this up for people without a home.”

He said the facilities were excellent with a cot, sleeping bag, blankets, linens, toiletries and towels. He was even able to get some clothes washed,and was given a warm coat.

Stogdell said he has had problems making ends meet since his mom died 2 1/2 years ago. He has a voucher for state Section 8 housing, so he knows he will get a place eventually. He’s been homeless before, but “not this long.”

Jeff A. said he came to the mission for food.

“I thought they just fed people,” he said. “Then I found out I could stay the night if I wanted to.”

Jeff said he has been on the streets for a month, “but I’m making it work.”

He was happy to find out that the parish is putting in showers. Lewis said showers being built in the men’s and women’s bathrooms near the cafeteria should be ready in a few weeks. Jeff said that is a huge problem for the homeless.

“There’s no place to take a shower,” he said. “They get dirty and stinky. How are you supposed to get a job if you can’t present yourself?”

To quote John Merrick, the famous “Elephant Man,” Jeff said: “I am not an animal. I am a man.”

Jeff said some homeless turn to drugs and alcohol to “dull the senses because they don’t want to be in touch with their feelings.”

“Not everybody is help-able,” he said.

Jeff said it is “hard on the street,” trying to find out what all is available. He said he tried to call the social service emergency number 211, but had to “jump through a lot of hoops.”

Another problem he has had is people stealing his stuff. He said he wished there was somewhere where possessions could be locked up.

“Why do people have to steal,” said Jeff, who travels by bicycle. He said homeless have to find hiding places.

“I hope my stuff is still there,” he said.

As for St. Mary’s, Jeff said he appreciates the new shelter.

“It’s a highly organized facility with friendly people, and people can just come and go,” he said.