Efforts from Servants of Shelter officials to aid the homeless population in International Falls is taking another step in the right direction.

The organization now provides an apartment at the Rambler Motel to put up those in need of shelter.

“It is one of those fortunate things,” said Melanie Mattson, a member of the SOS task force. “(The apartment) turned up at the time we had enough money to do it. It was one of those chills-down-the-spine kind of moment.”

If the apartment is full, Mattson said people in need of shelter will be put up in another hotel. She said the length of each stay is based on the circumstances of the family.

“We like to think of this apartment as a place for people to get started,” Mattson said. “We’re here to provide shelter and to help homeless families.”

Mattson said she has had her own family members stay in her home if they’re in need of a place to go and she has “seen how afraid people can be when they don’t know where they’re going to sleep at night. That is why I want to help as many people as I can.”

In addition to the apartment, Mattson said SOS is also working toward becoming an official non-profit organization that will enable the group to apply for grants that could be used for additional funding.

“That could be huge,” task force member Pat Bjorum said of being able to receive grant funding.

Still, Bjorum said, financial support is essential to Servants of Shelter.

“It is kind of a neighbors helping neighbors situation,” Bjorum said. “People are constantly, quietly giving us donations.”

Looking into the future, SOS hopes to be able to fund a site that will house multiple families at once.

In the past 11 months, the group has helped 21 families find temporary shelter. Bjorum said for an organization that is really a “grassroots effort,” progress has been happening.

A roast pork dinner to raise funds is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Elk’s Lodge 1599 in the Falls. Dinner is $10 and advance tickets are available at Holy Trinity Church, City Drug, and the Coffee Landing. The proceeds will be given to the Servants of Shelter fund.