The task force had raised money for the venture and was scheduled to ask the City Council this Wednesday night to allocate $7,500 in San Clemente Redevelopment Agency housing funds to help hire a security guard.

``It's kind of on hold right now,'' Toland said Monday.

Leslie Davis, city housing coordinator, said St. Clement's ``only wanted to do a cold-weather shelter, and we really felt it was important to have a consistent winter shelter for at least five days (a week).''

Several years ago St. Clement's did host a cold-weather shelter, which only operated on rainy nights or on nights when temperatures dropped below a specified threshold. Under the current proposal, the shelter would operate consistently, five nights a week, regardless of weather. Clients would either have to call ahead to reserve space for the night or would have to be referred to the shelter. Volunteers would sign in the homeless and screen them for acceptance (no drug or alcohol use).

The Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, rector at St. Clement's, could not be reached Monday. In an Oct. 21 letter she had informed county housing officials that the vestry had agreed to host a shelter this winter on condition that a security guard is hired. The homeless task force and FAM would raise the money for the security guard and for operating supplies, the letter said.

In a report to the City Council, Davis estimated that South Orange County has 4,000 homeless people -- 30 percent being single persons and 70 percent consisting of families. In San Clemente there are an estimated 400 who don't have a permanent address, Davis said. That's 120 single men or women and 280 in families that might sleep in cars, on the beach, in campgrounds, behind bridges or in commercial or industrial complexes.

Toland said she agrees with those estimates. She said FAM has probably served most of the 400 or so homeless people in town at some time or another.

FAM assists families with food and by providing assistance in obtaining motel lodging, Toland said. The proposed shelter is not designed to serve families, who would continue to get motel assistance. The winter shelter would be for individuals, Davis said.

Toland and Davis appealed to the community this week for help in identifying a location that might be suitable for a winter shelter. It would be staffed by volunteers and the security guard. It would open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 6:30 a.m., offering an evening meal, a bathroom with shower, a cot and a breakfast to go.

Toland said she would inquire with the American Youth Hostels organization in San Diego about the possibility of using a closed AYH hostel in downtown San Clemente. Davis said she has locations in mind, as well. Both Toland and Davis said they hold out hope that someone will come forward to offer a site. Toland said the task force does have ``some'' money available and has pledges of additional money.

``I can't say enough good about the people at St. Clement's and their willingness to even consider this,'' Toland said, adding: ``I believe that when God closes a door, He opens a window, and I'm looking for a breeze. I know there is a location for this shelter. I just don't know where it is right now.''