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Problem likely will get worse, experts worry
Source:
Butler Eagle
Written by:
John Bojarski
Published:
January 25, 2012
Homelessness in Butler County is here to stay and likely will get worse, agencies said.
“I personally am not real optimistic that they are going to change (for the better) in the future,” said Al Lane, director of Catholic Charities in Butler.
Lane pointed out that U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that 50 percent of the national population is at or below the poverty level of $10,890 for a single person and $22,350 for a family of four.
The statistics also show that one out of every 45 children in the United States is homeless.
“That's huge,” Lane said.
For the county, 15,775 people out of 183,862 were below the poverty level in 2010. That is 8.6 percent of the county population.
Mike Robb, executive director of the Center for Community Resources, also said homelessness might increase.
“Well, it's not going away,” Robb said. “It's an ever-growing concern.”
Amanda Feltenberger, director of service integration and quality management for Butler County Human Services, agreed with Lane, saying that it is hard to keep track of when the problem is getting worse.
“It almost seems, as soon as we're getting a handle on things ... it's just like it gets away from us,” Feltenberger said.
For example, she remembered when the Safe Harbor program, a joint effort by Catholic Charities and the Lighthouse Foundation, began in December 2008. It was created to keep the homeless residents in the county rather than send them to programs in other counties. As soon as the program opened, the national economy took a dive.
“Suddenly, the need skyrocketed,” Feltenberger said.
Spots in the program filled immediately, and residents still had to be sent outside the county. The program has two housing units for families and four for individuals.
Lane said Catholic Charities usually has 300 to 350 homeless people come to the office per year. However, 800 people came to the office in 2010.
“It looks like we're going to break 1,000 (in 2011),” Lane said, noting that 900 people came to Catholic Charities by November. “I think all of the systems ... we are so, so maxed out already.”
Lane said there are 30 requests for rental assistance for every five people who are eligible. He said people who do not have income are not eligible for rental assistance, and most of the people who request it do not have a source of income.
“And that's what kills us,” Lane said. “There's no quick fixes anymore.”
Robb said there are two issues that need to be addressed.
The first is educating the public about who the homeless are and the second is deciding how to address the problem effectively.
However, he said it is difficult to do that with ever decreasing resources.
“That's a given,” Robb said.
Feltenberger said funding programs that help the homeless and prevent people from becoming homeless is difficult because the state policy climate is not sympathetic to the issue.
“I don't foresee a change in that in the future,” Feltenberger said. “If they continue to cut these kinds of services, there are going to be more homeless.”
She cited two figures as examples. County human services used to get $60,000 from a federal Emergency Food and Shelter Grant. This year, it got $16,000.
Human services also used to get $400,000 from the state Human Services Development Fund. This year, it received $140,000.
Feltenberger said if similar trends continue, agencies might have to make hard decisions about who is and who is not eligible for services.
However, Lane said that will be difficult.
“But what's the next level of priorities?” Lane asked. “We have to maximize every dollar. I don't know the answers.”
To reduce homelessness, Lane said, the economy needs to improve with more and better jobs.
Additionally, Feltenberger said, more money is needed for housing and child care subsidies. This is important, she said, because someone with children working a minimum wage job cannot pay for housing and child care at the same time.
“People always say, ‘Why don't they get a job?' Well, that's why,” Feltenberger said.
Despite the relatively grim outlook, there are some hopeful signs.
One positive sign is the growth in agencies working together to help the homeless.
“We work together and maximize our resources,” Lane said. “Our case workers in these agencies talk every day. That's the thing we most have to be proud of.”
Robb agreed with Lane about the importance of agencies working together.
“We're really trying to look at those measures,” Robb said.
Another good thing, Feltenberger said, is the county's housing authority, which she feels is better than most.
“They really do go after all of their opportunities,” Feltenberger said.
In addition to working with other agencies, Feltenberger said agencies are trying to get the message out to the general public.
“We're going to have to rely on the general community more. We can't do it (on our own),” Feltenberger said.
Feltenberger said she is optimistic that the community will step up and help the homeless.
“We have a wonderful community,” Feltenberger said.
Lane said more people are becoming knowledgeable about homelessness in the county, which often encourages them to help.
“They're doing what they can,” Lane said. “The awareness is out there. I feel it's eye-opening to people.”
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