The overflow emergency shelter,  the first step  off  of the street,  provides services to women and women with children who cannot access other shelters because of the time of day, mental illnesses,  or  active or recovering substance addictions.   Because First Light’s emergency shelter is always full,  you will spend your first night in the overflow shelter.   The overflow shelter consists  of  mats on the floor in our dayroom.   You will be safe and warm and  not on the street.   If  you  arrive after 4 o’clock,  you will see  a social worker  the following morning.   If  First Light does  not  have  any available  beds  in the  emergency  shelter,  the  social  worker  will  help  you  contact  other  local shelters.   If no beds are open,  you  may  spend another night in First Light’s overflow shelter and the same process will begin again the next day. You may be in the overflow shelter for one night or as long as one week.   First Light’s emergency shelter has a 6 month time limit.   However,  if  you have been working  diligently  with  the social workers  and  do not qualify for other  resources,  we reserve  the  right  to  make  special  accommodations  until  appropriate housing  can be  obtained.