KLCC News

Historic Black church building in Glenwood becomes sanctuary for Lane County's homeless

KLCC | By Tiffany Eckert

Published October 6, 2022 at 6:36 PM PDT

Congregation members of Bethel Temple Church stand before the newly opened emergency homeless shelter named after church founders Rev. Arthur J. and Luvenia Shankle. The photo album contains pictures from back in the day when they worshipped and had fellowship here.

A new emergency homeless shelter had a grand opening in Glenwood Thursday. The renovated 12-bed facility was once an African American church.

Shankle Brooklyn Street Shelter is named after Reverend Arthur Shankle who- with his wife Luvenia- founded the Bethel Temple Church on Brooklyn Street in the early 1960s.

The Shankle Brooklyn Shelter is named after the late Reverend Arthur J. Shankle who, along with his wife Luvenia, founded Bethel Temple church, right here on Brooklyn Street, in the early 60’s. When the building became too small for its worshippers, the church relocated to 18^th Avenue. And the old church is now a sanctuary for the community’s most vulnerable.

Michelle Shankle Brown is the daughter of the founders of Bethel Temple Church. The original church building has been renovated to become Shankle Brooklyn Shelter. She spoke at the opening ceremony.

Several congregation members participated in the shelter’s opening ceremony. Michelle Shankle Brown cut the ribbon with encouragement.

“Cut it Michelle!” And the small crowd cheered.

“What I like most about this is my dad always wanted to help people,” Shankle Brown said. “And this is something he would be very proud of.”

Shankle Brooklyn Shelter provides rooms for 12 residents at a time, a kitchen, bathrooms and common spaces. Lane County Health and Human Services offers access to medical and behavioral health resources. — The new Shankle Brooklyn Street emergency shelter has 6 rooms, some single some double, to serve up to 12 residents at a time. The renovated church building also has a kitchen, bathrooms and common spaces.

Shankle Brooklyn Shelter provides rooms, a kitchen, bathrooms and common spaces. Lane County Health and Human Services offers residents access to medical and behavioral health resources and help transitioning into permanent housing.