Housing Needed

My name is Laura and I am serving at the Community Action House in Holland. Most of my responsibilities are related to the Homeless Assistance Recovery Program (HARP). The HARP program is a housing voucher program for people who are homeless. In most cases, it is a permanent voucher and its recipients can live in housing of their choice. Almost every day, I spend time on the phone with people who are interested in getting on the HARP waiting list. Many of the people I speak with are in need of immediate housing and most consider themselves to be homeless. If they are not eligible for my program, I try to refer them elsewhere for services. I have noticed a number of populations that seem to be in need of housing services that do not exist.

One of the populations that is not eligible for the HARP program or any of the other housing programs in my area for homeless people are people that are living doubled up with family and friends. The programs are geared towards those with the greatest amount of need and people who have others to stay with are in less need than those who do not have that option. The definition of a homeless individual for my program is someone who lives in a shelter or transitional housing program for people who are homeless, or someone who is living in a place not meant for human habitation such as a vehicle. There are also rare circumstances where people who have received an eviction notice can fit the definition. It leaves the people who are living doubled up in a difficult situation. Many are desperate to leave their current setting but desire to not have to live in the homeless shelter. The shelters have plenty of occupants to provide services for and do not need people coming in who have other options of places to stay.

Another population that has difficulty becoming eligible for housing programs for people who are homeless is single fathers with children. There is only one place in my county that I am aware of where single fathers and children can go for emergency shelter. That place has very limited space and only accepts people who fall under certain criteria. Around Christmastime, we had numerous single fathers calling my organization in one week to ask about places to stay. I had one family come in on a Friday afternoon with absolutely no place to go. If they cannot live in a shelter with their children, it is rare that they will be able to qualify for transitional and permanent housing services for homeless individuals.

A third population that I have had contact with that has difficulty becoming eligible for housing assistance is people who cannot live in the mission. One woman I spoke with had children with disabilities that made it so they could not function in a living situation such as a homeless shelter. Other people have not lived in the area long enough, have had run ins with other people who stay in the shelter, have mental illnesses that prevent them from feeling comfortable in that environment, etc. The list goes on and on. Sometimes these people are eligible for the waiting lists for homeless housing services because, unfortunately, they have been forced to live in their vehicles or on the street.

It seems purposeless to focus on the populations that are not eligible for these services because there is not enough funding even for the people who are eligible. The HARP waiting list is long and budgets are tight. My county has very little to complain or worry about compared to more urban areas. However, when you look at this issue on an individual level, it matters greatly. People need to know that those in their situations are not forgotten. Even being able to fill out an application and being able to get a name on a waiting list can give someone some hope for the future. If there was more housing available, perhaps programs could be opened up to people in the situations I listed above. More families would be able to stay in tact and less people would be forced to live in places not meant for human habitation. The part of my placement that I enjoy the most is when I am able to spend time with the people who already have housing vouchers. Their housing brings consistency to a formerly hectic part of their lives. Shelter is something many people take for granted. Often community members just assume that everyone has a place to stay and that homelessness does not exist in smaller cities like mine. Through my service I have learned that that is definitely not the case and that there is still a great need for housing and for focus on housing issues.

Continuing to Help Those in Need

My name is Dana Lattany and I am a second year AmeriCorps member under Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness. The site I serve at is the South Oakland Shelter (SOS), a homeless shelter in Royal Oak, MI. I serve in the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Department (HPRP), which assists individuals and families who have fallen behind in their rent or utility payments, or if they are homeless the program helps them with moving into a new home by paying for the security deposit and partial rent. There are several departments in SOS that work together to help provide the best resources for the clients and these resources are not just available while the clients are in the program. Client can still receive assistance even after they have been re-housed or have timed-out of the program.

After clients are re-housed or have timed-out of the program, many are required if not highly encouraged to stay in touch with SOS to acquire more resources for themselves. The ultimate goal for the client is to be self-sufficient after receiving assistance from SOS. A variety of resources are available for those who still need assistance to achieve their self-sufficiency. For instance, when a client moves into their new home, the HPRP department will usually assist them with their rent for a few months. The client needs to use those months to save their money. During that time, the client may be required to attend financial literacy classes that show the client how to save and budget their income. These classes are important because they give the client long-term financial goals for themselves. Furthermore, if the client moves into affordable housing and has either Section 8 or Social Security Income, the client usually needs to get at least a part-time job to fully cover the rent and other expenses. If this is the situation, SOS staff or volunteers will help the client with their resume/cover letters and mock interviews to prepare the client for applying for employment.

In addition to helping the client with their finances and job seeking, SOS has a clothing closet of new or gently used clothes. The client can select clothing for everyday and professional use. There is clothing for all ages and if the client has a newborn child, the parent can pick-up diapers, baby formula, car seats, etc. There is also a food pantry where a client can obtain a week’s worth of food. For the donations that SOS receives, the agency uses the largest room available to store the items. However, the space can only accommodate necessary items. Because of limited space, SOS can’t accept a lot of furniture but when there is room, the client can have that furniture for their new home as well as any computers or electronics that were donated.

A few other classes that are offered to the clients are computer training, self-care & nutrition, youth mentoring, adult literacy, support groups, and career counseling classes. SOS implements all of these classes and more to help the client to live independently.