It’s not only a call to action, but also a call for compassion.

Nancy Berchtold, a member of St Vincent DePaul-Lehighton, who also serves as a board member of Bridgeway Community Services (Shelter), discussed the need for a full-time shelter (transitional and emergency) on the property of what was once “Concern” in Mahoning Township.

“We have formed a group to open a shelter that is now incorporated as Bridgeway Community Services (Shelter),” Berchtold said. “We’re now a seven-member board, we’re just forming our strategic plan, although the urgency is there, especially (after) what happened on the river on Memorial Day.”

On Monday a homeless man was charged after a standoff in Tent City in Lehighton on Monday.

At that time, Jason Shiffert, 43, threatened to blow himself up and charged at officers at the tent city section near the D & L trail.

Shiffert faces charges of aggravated assault, risking catastrophe, and terroristic threats.

Shiffert is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,00 straight bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing June 5 before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.

Berchtold said that in light of that, the community has to address the situation that exists.

“We’re all ready to sit down and talk about this,” she said. “We have the task force up and running, has been up for a couple months, it’s for sure; there is some action with this.”

Berchtold noted that their Shelter planning group is busy working on strategic plans, filing for 501(c)3 status, looking at funding sources. The group includes representatives of the local coalition of churches and other concerned people.

“It’s about time that our community and county join us in helping with this amazing and life giving venture,” she said. “Let’s get this to fruition and maybe save a few lives and avoid near tragic confrontations like (Monday).

“The time, energy and resources needed to meet that crisis (on Monday) points to urgent needs. Together we can address this need.”

Berchtold noted the St. Peter’s Community Resource Center in Weissport, which in January opened so the homeless in the Lehighton area could have a place to stay during the frigid cold temperatures.

“It brought so much awareness and sympathy from the community; I think that was the bedrock of us starting the Cold Front Shelter, because we didn’t think about our liability, the risks that would be involved,” she said. “We just knew that something had to happen.

“Having this happen again along the river with Tent City being cleared out; I just don’t want to see it ignored, it’s so easy to turn and walk away from these issues, and yet there’s so much potential. We have a property, we have a wonderful facility that’s nearly ready to be moved in.”

Berchtold acknowledged that “it might not be the answer for everyone. Spending tons of resources, time, lives at risk.”

“There are folks who are still homeless,” she said. “But they are here, they’ve been scattered.”

Berchtold said the group’s fundraising committee met Wednesday night to discuss funding options for the shelter.

“We’re setting things up needing seed money to finally open the door,” she said. “I know that all of us who will sit on the table tonight have very strong feelings on what happened to (Shiffert), state police, local police, everyone who ran to help on Monday.”

Two people died in the Tent City homeless camp in Lehighton this year. The camp was disbanded by Carbon County because of liability and other concerns.