The Iberia Homeless Shelter is putting on a special event to commemorate its 20th year of existence in Iberia Parish. 

The shelter will be opening its doors to the public on April 4 for donuts and coffee from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in celebration of the 20 year landmark. 

Director Steven Etienne said the event will be open to everyone, and will serve as a meet and greet for the shelter. 

Etienne, who has been a part of the Iberia Homeless Shelter for 19 years, directs the shelter which is the Iberia Parish organization on the front lines of dealing with homelessness in the area. 

The organization’s location on Robertson Street offers several types of resources for extending help to the homeless, and began in 2005. 

Although originally aimed as a shelter for men, the organization broadened its reach to serve women and children in 2018, and also began accepting referrals for victims of domestic violence.

The Iberia Homeless Shelter is also responsible for acquiring data like the homeless count, which seeks to put a number on the homeless in the area on a specific day during the year. 

The shelter’s annual fundraising mail out is also just around the corner, where the non-profit hopes to raise funds for the critical work it does in Iberia Parish.