Homeless count brings together volunteers, supports local efforts
Friday, 29 January 2010 16:26
From left: Kyla Booher, David “Danger” Minervini, Tom L. Knox and Dave Simmons.
Organized by a planning team led by the Community Shelter Board, more than
100 people participated in the sixth annual count which is conducted as part of the community’s commitment to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Local communities are required to document the extent of homelessness at a specific point in time in order to receive federal support.
United Way of Central Ohio Crisis & Emergency Assistance Results Committee volunteer Dave Simmons led a team that included three other Ohio State University students, Erika Clark Jones of the City of Columbus and UWCO staffer Joe McKinley. Their route covered much of the river bank and nearby land along the northeast side of the Scioto River from State Route 315 to the Broad Street Bridge.
“I've volunteered for the Point-In-Time Count during the last four years, because it raises awareness of the homeless and provides focus for community concern about this issue,” said Simmons.
“Advocacy compels action,” he added. “I extended an invitation to my classmates in the College of Social Work at Ohio State, because we read about these issues in our textbooks and discuss them everyday in our classes. Volunteering is a tangible expression of that awareness.”
The experience appeared to be impactful for the OSU students – taking what is theoretical and abstract in the classroom, and, putting a human face and experience on it.
“This morning I went out in downtown Columbus to make sure that anyone without a warm place to stay during the winter knows that they are not alone,” said David Minervini, one of the students. “There are folks who care, and, I was hoping to let people know that they always have options – especially when it comes to braving the cold by themselves. God bless, Mr. Adams.”
He was referring to a man the team encountered near the Santa Maria tourist ship along the Scioto River. The team offered to take him to Faith Mission’s overflow shelter. Mr. Adams thanked the volunteers, but said he preferred to stay.
After the count, the volunteers gathered for a breakfast prepared by World Harvest Bible College students. Outreach worker Brian Hall, who engages people on the streets every day, said he knows Mr. Adams.
Hall, whose engagement work also includes speaking about his experiences with United Way of Central Ohio supporters and potential donors, said Mr. Adams used to stay in Goodale Park. He recently relocated to the area near the Santa Maria. It is docked close to the intersection of Broad Street and Marconi Boulevard.
He reports that Mr. Adams has been homeless for quite some time, but is not yet ready to consider permanent housing options. Hall called him friendly and smart, but said he has significant behavioral health barriers. He will continue to engage Mr. Adams and hopes some day that he will be able to help him into housing.
Simmons’ team was one of approximately 20 groups comprised of shelter and outreach workers, faith-based volunteers, Capital Crossroads Community Improvement District staff, City of Columbus workers, Community Shelter Board, United Way of Central Ohio, formerly homeless people, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and others interested in the issue of homelessness.
While several teams focused on downtown, particularly near rivers, railroad tracks and open spaces; others visited encampments as far north as I-71 and Weber Road, and, areas to the east and west of downtown.
As Simmons’ team walked the area of the river along Long Street, they found two encampments without people staying in them. One was under water due to recent rain and snow melt upstream.
While conducting the count, the group was able to get to know one another and learn about others’ perspectives on the issue of homelessness.
“As a social work student and someone from the ailing west side of Columbus, poverty has always been on my mind,” said Tom Knox. “So, I decided to help and go to the streets to help document the homeless. I’m glad we only saw one homeless man, but even that is one too many. It appears that many are using the city’s vast options for housing – I hope that soon enough that the number on the streets will be zero.”
Knox was referring to the amount of permanent supportive housing stock available in our community thanks to the Rebuilding Lives initiative. This public-private partnership that includes United Way of Central Ohio helped develop more than 800 units of housing with supportive services for formerly homeless adults. United Way of Central Ohio provides approximately $200,000 of operating support annually for this work and over the last dozen years has invested more than $1.5 million in additional funds from an anonymous donor and other sources targeted to developing specific projects.
When the count began six years ago, the number of unsheltered people identified was approximately 200 people. Last year, despite trying economic conditions, the count was 108. It is expected that the number will be about the same in 2010. Clearly, the availability of permanent supportive housing gives homeless adults more options and choices that can help them break the cycle of homelessness.
However, shelters are typically full this time of year for single adults and it is expected that as many as 1,300 more people were assisted through emergency or transitional shelter during the count.
“The experience was eye-opening to me, and a humbling one as well,” said Kyla Booher. “I respect and support the city’s efforts to reach those who may need engagement. Hopefully, year after year the number of those counted will only continue to decrease.”
During the winter months, fewer people stay outside due to cold and unpredictable weather. In the summer, advocates estimate that 400 or more people stay outside.
While the problem persists, it is one being addressed effectively by people like Dave Simmons – volunteers and advocates – who work in partnership to make Columbus the kind of community where homelessness can be reduced and people can dream about the possibility of ending it over time.
“We are grateful for all the volunteers who give up the comfort of warm beds and homes, and, endure the early morning weather conditions to walk the streets and parks with us,” said Dave Davis, director of programs and planning at CSB. “The Point-In-Time Count would not be possible without these individuals who came out in the middle of the night to walk to homeless camp sites, prepare breakfast and perform other services throughout the day.”
CSB receives more than $9 million in funding annually to support homeless programs and services from private donors, United Way of Central Ohio and all levels of government. United Way’s current investment in CSB programs is more than $1 million.
While these resources are critical to addressing the issue of homelessness; it is volunteer support, engagement and advocacy that help keep this issue at the forefront of the community’s efforts to make central Ohio a better place for everyone to live.
Want to know more about the issue of homelessness and what people are doing about it in our community and elsewhere? Here is a list of websites:
www.liveunitedcentralohio.org
www.csb.org
www.cohhio.org
www.endhomelessness.org
