The homeless population in Butler County has been rising but largely invisible for the past eight years.

To counter that, 26 Butler County agencies are trying to focus attention on homelessness in the county throughout this month.

Banding together as the Butler County Local Housing Options Team, the group has planned a series of events, meetings, donation drives and exhibitions to call attention to the homeless population.

Amanda Feltenberger, a worker with the Butler County Human Services, said the agencies are involved with the homeless or housing providers, “as well as interested community members, treatment providers and anybody that serves people who are homeless or who have an interest in that.”

Feltenberger said this is the 11th year for the awareness month but the first year it's been in November.

“It's always been in August, I'm not certain why,” Feltenberger said. “November is a much better fit. The weather is getting colder, and National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week is Nov. 14-21.”

“We also thought we'd get more cooperation with Butler County Community College. Before, in August, school was not really in session,” Feltenberger said.

Her Butler Human Services colleague Allyson Rose said according to Catholic Charities, which provides central intake for homeless services, there are about 1,000 homeless out of a county population of 185,000.

“From what we do know, in the past 7 to 8 years, the numbers of people seeking homeless services has tripled,” said Feltenberger.

“There are many reasons. Every story is different,” she said. “The economy has a big impact. Many were just making it, but now it's gotten to where they are not making it anymore.

“We know affordable housing is a big reason. Rents are higher now for a lot of reasons,” she said. “People can be working but still not be able to afford to rent on their own.”

Feltenberger said, “We've seen people who have had trouble with drugs and alcohol in the past and who have gotten clean (choose) to be homeless rather than live where there was chance they would be using again.”

Rose said, “I think raising awareness is a good idea. We don't have street homeless, people sleeping on benches. They literally don't see it.”

Feltenberger said, “But it's definitely across the county. Remember that Cranberry man that was living in a tent in the woods?”

November's first event is a housing summit running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Community Alliance Church, 800 Mercer Road.

Feltenberger said the summit will help the options team's partner agencies get a good picture of the homeless population.

The summit is the first step of a long-term strategic housing plan for the community, Rose said.

Rose said, “Community members will attend, as will current or former homeless people. They have a different picture of what it is to be homeless and where the gaps are.”

From Nov. 1 through Nov. 22, there will be a food drive on the Butler County Community College campus run by the Social Work Club.

Karen Jack, the faculty adviser of the 35-member student group, said, “We will set up collection boxes at different locations on the main campus to gather nonperishable food items.”

Jack said when the drive ends, the food will be turned over to the housing options team, which will distribute it to food banks.

“The students are decorating boxes, putting up fliers around campus encouraging people to contribute to this effort,” said Jack.

The community college's Succop Theater will be the scene of Nov. 18's Faces of Homelessness Project, which will feature a panel discussion, photography display and a screening of the movie “Time out of Mind” featuring Richard Gere as a homeless man in New York City.

The display will feature pictures taken by people using cameras distributed to those participating in homeless programs.

On Nov. 23 there will be educational assemblies at Sugarcreek and Chicora elementary schools featuring Josh and Gab, a comedy-musical duo from Pittsburgh.

Rose said, “These are educational assemblies to educate children primarily on antibullying but it also talks about living with Grandma. In more rural communities, families are doubling up and staying with relatives.”

Finally, the Associated Artists of Butler County will host a “Faces of Homelessness” photograph display at its Arts Center at 334 S. Main St. from Dec. 2 to Dec. 12.

“The goal is to raise awareness and change thinking, so people take action and make a change,” said Rose.

Feltenberger said, “It seems like drugs are the hot topic. This is to remind people that families and children are impacted every day by homelessness.”

The 26 Butler County agencies that make up the housing options team are:• Accessible Dreams• AIDS Coalition of SW PA• Butler County Assistance Office• Butler County Community Action• Butler County Human Services• Catholic Charities• Center for Community Resources• Connecting 2 Tomorrow• Disability Options Network• Grace Youth and Family Foundation• Grapevine Center• Housing Authority of Butler County• Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center• Lighthouse Foundation• Mental Health Association• Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV• MHY Family Services• NAMI• New Beginnings Free Methodist Church• PA Career Link• Salvation Army• Self Determination Housing Project• St. Vincent DePaul• United Way of Butler County• VA Butler Healthcare• Victim Outreach Intervention Center

Two main numbers to call for people experiencing homelessness are:• Catholic Charities: 724-287-4011• N. Pa. 211 Southwest, a health and human services hot line.

The following events are planned in Butler County:• Housing Summit, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Community Alliance Church, 800 Mercer Road• Food Drive, Nov. 1 through Nov. 22, nonperishable food items collected on the Butler County Community College campus by the Social Work Club• Butler County Face of Homelessness Project, 4 to 8 p.m., Nov. 18, Succop Theater, Butler County Community College, 108 College Drive; photography display, panel discussion and screening of the movie “Time Out of Mind”• Josh and Gab school assemblies Nov. 23: 10 a.m. Sugarcreek Elementary School, 1290 Route 268, Cowansville; 1:30 p.m. Chicora Elementary School, 205 Kittanning St., Chicora.• Faces of Homelessness Photograpy Display, Dec. 2 to Dec. 12, Art Center, 334 S. Main St.For more information about these events and how you can become involved to support homeless individuals and families in the county, call Allyson Rose at 724-284-5114.