About Us

IRWS was started by Davis religious congregations in 2005 as a means to house the homeless during the winter.  It was an all-volunteer effort.  Volunteers screened the guests, transported them to the congregation open that week, fed them, watched them through the night, and provided breakfast or a bag lunch in the morning.  

The COVID pandemic changed everything and in fall 2020, the shelter was a hotel-based operation run by the City.  Volunteers donated food and other supplies. 

Our records are not complete, but we can attest to:

• Mary Anne Kirsch 
• Julie Harlow, ~2009-2016
• Eric Elton, 2016-2018
• 2018-2019 Patti Hobbs
• Patti Hobbs and Linda Scott, 2019-2020
• Geoff Rohde 2020-2022
• [HEART of Davis during 2022]
• Brent Hawkins 2022-2023
• Shoshana Zatz 2023-

2005-2020

• Congregation Bet Haverim
• Davis Christian Assembly
• Davis Community Church
• Davis Lutheran Church
• Davis United Methodist Church
• First Baptist Church
• Lutheran Church of the Incarnation
• St. James Catholic Church
• University Covenant Church
• Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis

These congregations provided drivers, screeners, organizers, and other support

• LDS
• Quaker Friends
•  Islamic Center of Davis
•  Davis Korean Church 
•  The Episcopal Church of St. Martin  

Volunteers did almost everything including:

• Screening guests at Intake (Friend's Hall or St. Martin's)
• Transport guest to host congregation
• Cook dinner and dine with guests
• Keep an eye on guests overnight
• Provide a morning snack or bag lunch
• Organize the whole effort
• Move the operation from host to host on Sunday afternoon-including sleeping bags and many administrative items.  A truck's worth of stuff.