Local churches have started opening their doors to Suffolk’s homeless for the winter.

The Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk rolled out its Night Stay Program on Dec. 30, with four people staying overnight at Magnolia United Methodist Church.

It’s the third year the coalition of Suffolk churches and faith-based organizations has sponsored the sheltering and feeding program for the community’s less fortunate, organizer Cheryl Griffin said.

Local churches will rotate weeks hosting the Night Stay Program through March 30, providing men, women and children in need with a place to sleep, eat and shower nightly.

Anyone seeking shelter should meet between 6 and 6:30 p.m. nightly at the Suffolk Seaboard Railroad Museum, 326 N. Main St. A bus will transport people to the host church and take them back them back the next morning, Griffin said.

Although a bus does not pick up in northern Suffolk, any person wanting overnight shelter can go to the North Suffolk Library and ask for a free bus pass to the intake location, she said.

No drugs or alcohol are allowed, she said, and the churches are not able to host anyone on the sex offender registry.

Participating churches will include Suffolk Christian Church, Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Oakland Christian Church, Village Christian Fellowship Church, James River Community Church, Open Door Church, Bethlehem Christian Church, CrossPointe Church and First Baptist Church.

“We had four people on the first night,” Griffin said. “I think there is more homelessness in Suffolk and that we will be seeing an increase in participants this year as word gets out.”

Last year, the CAPS Night Stay program helped 22 different people, Griffin said.

The face of homelessness is not what’s many people think, Griffin said.

Last year, the churches provided temporary shelter to a teenage boy who got up the next morning and went to school. Another frequent user was a single, working mother who drove her kids to school every morning and worked all day in Virginia Beach, trying to save up enough money to get a deposit to lease an apartment, Griffin said.

“It’s been eye-opening,” Griffin said. “The people didn’t fit the mold of homelessness.”

CAPS or other organizations have been able to help several people find more stable, permanent housing, she said.

“This is not meant to be a long-term solution,” Griffin said. “We try to help them get out of the situation if we can.”

For more information, call 286-9126 or visit the CAP Suffolk website, www.capsuffolk.com.

CAPS night-stay schedule

Jan. 6-12: Suffolk Christian Church

Jan. 13-26: Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church

Jan. 27-Feb. 2: Hillcrest Baptist Church

Feb. 3-9: Oakland Christian Church

Feb. 10-16: Village Christian Fellowship Church and James River Community Church

Feb. 17-23: Open Door Church

Feb. 24-March 1, Bethlehem Christian Church

March 2-8: Village Christian Fellowship Church and James River Community Church

March 9-15: CrossPointe Church

March 16-22: Hillcrest Church

March 23-30: First Baptist Church