A Carbon County homeless shelter that helps men is expanding its operations to help women.

Aggie Schoenberger of Peaceful Knights said the organization recently purchased a building at 131 and 133 N. First St., Lehighton that will soon become a shelter for women experiencing homelessness. The building is a few buildings down from the organization’s other shelter for men.

Schoenberger said that once complete, the building will provide two apartments, include transitional housing and an emergency shelter, the same operation as the men’s shelter.

“The building works well,” she said, adding that there is a lot to do with the building before it becomes operational, but she is hopeful to have at least the transitional living portion open by Christmas. “We’re working on it.”

Peaceful Knights was started in 2007 and helped both men and women by renting hotel rooms for those who needed a home.

The operation then transitioned into renting apartments and then in 2015, into the current building at 215 N. First St.

Schoenberger said it was at during the transition to under one roof that Peaceful Knights had to make the decision to focus only on serving homeless men.

“When we went under one roof, we couldn’t put men and women in the same building and there were always many more homeless men than women,” she said. “Carbon County had help for homeless women up until five years ago. This isn’t new for us, we just simply couldn’t accommodate everyone under one roof.”

But as the need to help homeless women is growing, Peaceful Knights decided to expand as well.

If you would like to volunteer, Schoenberger said there is a Facebook group, Peaceful Knights Volunteers, that you could join.

“If there is a need, we post it there,” she said.

The organization also has a second Facebook group, Peaceful Knights - 100 People Praying.

To donate to the shelter, visit www.peacefulknights.org