It happens here, too
Local charities awaiting numbers on homeless countBy Kevin Risner, krisner@advertiser-tribune.com
Seneca County is waiting for the numbers. How many homeless people are in the county this time of year? Does anyone really sleep under bridges in Seneca County?
The Seneca County Homeless Coalition, under the leadership of WSOS Community Action Commission, completed a count of homeless people Jan. 27. Final totals are not yet available. The count is taken annually, usually in January.
Sue Madden of WSOS said various workers traveled throughout the county and physically inspected likely locations where homeless people might be staying-campgrounds, cemeteries and other areas.
In addition, letters were sent to agencies in the area who provide services to potentially homeless individuals or families. Those agencies were asked to report information about people who would be considered homeless on that day.
Madden said the physical inspection was hampered this year by the weather conditions. She said the day of the count was determined at the state level. If the count was to be done in the spring or summer, the final numbers for Seneca County would be higher than the January total, Madden said.
"Homelessness is vastly different in this area," Madden said. "Rural people are much more attuned to taking in family and friends."
Agencies
Area agencies confirm the need for services to assist homeless individuals and families.
"This is a big issue in Seneca County," Pat DeMonte said. DeMonte is executive director of Tiffin Seneca United Way.
"I don't think people realize homelessness happens here because we don't see the homeless right outside like in the big cities, especially on the street," DeMonte said. "They are the transient homeless, living from place to place. They've worn out their welcome at one place. The person who took them in can't keep them there because they will lose their housing if they have too many people. There are a lot of issues that cause a person to be homeless; losing their job, a family break-up, being kicked out of the house by a parent."
DeMonte said local agencies have been aware of homeless people sleeping in vehicles. When the weather was warmer, homeless people would sleep in local parks, and yes, even under bridges. DeMonte said some community organizations provide funds to pay for motel rooms in some cases. Some homeless individuals are referred to homeless shelters in neighboring communities. Within the last week, five individuals sought help from the United Way and First Call for Help. DeMonte said she made arrangements for one man to find shelter in Sandusky.
"I called ahead to see if they had space for him," DeMonte said. "A lot of times you can send them there but if they don't have beds they are back on the street again. They have a limited number of beds. Fremont's Liberty Center was completely full. We called up to Sandusky. They said, 'we don't have beds but we have mats on the floor. He'll at least be inside where it's warm and we can feed him.'
"Homelessness is truly a big problem here because we don't have a place where they can go."
Sue Hampshire, director of First Call for Help, has seen and heard the same types of things when providing services to homeless individuals and families. Hampshire was asked in people really sleep under bridges.
"It's not unheard of," Hampshire said. "Some of the places people have told me they have spent the night ... yes, under a bridge. I've heard they have spent nights in our city parks. Some of them have figured out ways of getting into empty buildings around town. Some of them just know how to go into some of the apartment complexes and just kind of spend time in the hall. Just various places like that. They are doing whatever they have to do."
Assistance
Hampshire said her agency provides help in two different ways. If a person or family is expecting a new job or a different housing situation in a few days, her agency might find a way to provide a motel room for the few days in between. She said First Call for Help has sources of funds to call upon to help pay the bills. If a person does not have those short-term prospects to plan for, the agency operates with a different type assistance.
"If there doesn't seem to be any end in sight, in income, nothing lined up as far as being self-sufficient, then we refer them to some of the shelters in neighboring towns," Hampshire said.
Towns with homeless shelters are Findlay, Fremont, Marion, Toledo and Sandusky. Tiffin does not have a homeless shelter.
The Tiffin Salvation Army has seen an increase in demand for its services, but not just from homeless people.
"Some people need shelter, some people need help for their electric or gas," Nancy Young said. Young is an administrative assistant at the Salvation Army.
"We've had an influx of people for their utilities," Young said. "We're getting a lot more people than we've had before.
If we have enough money we send them to one of the motels in town."
Young said the Salvation Army sends homeless individuals to shelters in neighboring towns to gain shelter.
Young said more people are seeking food assistance these days too. She said elderly people are especially likely to seek food aid because they spend money to purchase medications and may not have much left for groceries.
The Salvation Army offers meals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Young said. Meals are served by other agencies or church groups as well.
The final numbers from the Jan. 27 homeless count are to be available within the next two weeks.
"Awareness is the biggest thing, making people aware," Hampshire said. "Then maybe we can get something done about it."
