Thursday, January 28, 2016

Point-in-Time

 

Photo: Barbara Davidson/LA Times
January is the month for the annual point-in-time (PIT) count across the nation. HUD mandates that a yearly census of the homeless population be gathered to guide its allocation of support for those agencies that rely upon HUD funding to provide services for the homeless and near homeless population.
The numbers from 2015 are telling. The PIT count was 183 in 2010; in 2015 it was 368, 74 of which were considered unsheltered (living in places not meant for habitation). By all accounts the increase in numbers was partly due to the improvement in accuracy in the counting process.
If the population of the Rescue Mission is any indicator, the count will be at least the same for 2016. This is significant in that the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley is the only emergency overnight shelter in Mahoning County. We have seen a marked increase in the number of individuals served at the Mission – an average of 131 per night for fiscal year 2015.
Stay tuned for information on 2016 PIT. In the meantime, consider what you can do to help the Mission care for this increasing need.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Business is Good; Business is Bad

As we are out among people, we often hear the question, partially asked in jest, “How’s business at the Mission?”  The reply is sometimes unexpected: “Business is good – which means business is bad.” That a shelter such as the Rescue Mission is necessary is an unfortunate commentary on modern culture. In affluent America, the existence of homeless shelters is an enigma.

What brings people to the Mission? Why is business good? There are various reasons why an individual or a family might experience homelessness. Attempts to generalize the causes often fail to consider the unique situations that characterize certain parts of the country. However, if we are to speak in general terms, we may speak of these as factors that lead to homelessness.
  • Traumatic Circumstances – It is not uncommon for a single mother with children to find herself and her children homeless because of domestic issues; either some sort of abuse or the desire to escape criminal activity in a home. A family may experience the loss of housing due to an emergency such as a fire.
  • Financial Issues – The rising cost of housing make affordable housing difficult to maintain with near minimum wage jobs. Add to this the cost of basic child care and subsistence expenses and homeless shelters become the stopgap option.
  • Substance Abuse – Homelessness is often a secondary condition of drug or alcohol abuse. This is particularly true in the Mahoning Valley where heroin use is at epidemic proportions. It is inexpensive and accessible. People caught in addiction have often burned all of their bridges with family, friends and any other network they have developed. The Mission is the last alternative.
  • Chronic Homelessness – According to the online version of The Christian Post, “chronic homelessness, which is defined as homelessness among people who have a disability – including serious mental illness or chronic medical issues – also make up a substantial number of the homeless.”
It is with mixed feelings that we can say that “business is good” at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. That people experience homelessness is unfortunate; but that we have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with more and more people is a great opportunity that we do not take lightly.


Thursday, January 14, 2016

Ideas for a New Year


We are well into 2016. The winter in Northeast Ohio has been unusually mild with the warmest December on record. January, however, has welcomed the first brutal cold snap with single digit low temperatures and more in the immediate forecast. Winter is usually a difficult time for those who experience episodes of homelessness – particularly demanding for people who live on the streets.
If you are in the habit of New Year’s resolutions, or setting goals, or even making lists, here is a list of things you can do to help alleviate the plight of people who are in homeless situations as we begin a new year:
1.      Be Aware
The fact that there are people who have no permanent and stable housing does not appear on the radar of most people who live functional, “normal” lives. Wherever you live, realize that you are not too far from someone who has no place to call home. Additionally, most Americans are 1 or 2 paychecks away from being homeless themselves. Homelessness is closer than you think.
2.      Be Considerate
When you encounter homeless people, treat them with love, dignity, and respect. This may be difficult for some who have an aversion to “hobo’s” or “panhandlers.” But understand that no one wakes up one morning and makes a conscious decision to be homeless. It is always at the end of a series of events or choices poorly made. Know that the people you meet at a shelter or on the streets were once just like you.
3.      Be Engaged
Likely, you live near a homeless shelter, a rescue mission, or a food bank. These organizations thrive on volunteer involvement. You may volunteer to perform services that may seem insignificant, but they eliminate the need for those organizations to hire staff to accomplish those tasks. This is an invaluable service for organizations that depend upon non-profit dollars.
4.      Be Invested
Organizations that help homeless people usually are not-for-profit organizations that depend upon donated dollars to fulfill their mission statement. The appeal for donations may become wearisome, but the reality is that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Determine to become a regular donor to those agencies that exist to aid people in homeless situations. Like many of these organizations, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley relies solely on donations. We do not seek nor receive any type of federal funding to help us bring hope to the hurting and homeless of our valley.