Point in Time homeless count results told for Putnam County

Friday, February 7, 2014

During the last week in January, several committed individuals spread out across Putnam County from Cunot in the south (actually in Owen County) to Russellville in the north to visit food pantries, Headstart, clinics, other social service agencies and churches to meet prospective vulnerable families and to ask "Where will you spend Wednesday night, Jan. 29?"

In some instances, early visits were made to some food pantries that were only open on the preceding weekend. These people were asked to tell about their living arrangements -- if they had heat, electricity, running water and a kitchen to fix meals.

All of this effort was so Putnam County people could be counted in the nationwide Point In Time census on Jan. 30 sponsored by Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose was to measure the effectiveness of programs for the homeless, to identify areas of deficiency in meeting needs of the homeless, and to ultimately end homelessness altogether.

Putnam County is a part of the Wabash Valley Planning Council on Homelessness for Region 7, which also includes Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.

Much useful information was discovered.

First, there are many caring people in Putnam County. There are untold numbers who are willing to take in individuals, families and neighbors when anyone falls on hard times.

Second, for HUD's purposes the count was only of those "on the streets" but because of the goodheartedness of our communities we found only seven living in places not fit for human habitation, and of those, only two living in cars.

Third, there were 22 "double bunking" with families, including veterans with no employment, single moms with children coming home to live with parents or grandparents, who have taken them in. Some of the 22 were elderly who had moved to live with their children because of having lost their homes.

For count purposes those double bunking are not considered "countable."

Two reasons most often given for not having their own place is loss of employment and domestic violence. Many of the local 29 have been homeless for 11 months or less, but several have had four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

Three had not finished high school, one was in college, and one had attended vocational school, and none was receiving SSI or unemployment benefits, both of which help to keep people out of poverty. Only four were veterans and all but one surveyed were non-hispanic white. Seven listed chronic health problems or physical disability as extenuating circumstances.

It is obvious to those doing the census that if there are 81 "homeless" children in Greencastle schools, 15 in North Putnam schools, 24 in Cloverdale schools, and 21 in South Putnam schools, we barely scratched the surface at the food pantries.

Because of confidentiality, the schools were unable to share any data. "Homeless" for the purposes of school report to the state is broader including double bunking, living in motels/hotels/campgrounds, "teens floating" or simply "unsheltered."

Kathy Kirkpatrick and Ann Newton were in charge of the count in Putnam County. Other volunteers were Denise Gaskins, Ed Kirkpatrick, Tammy Hunter, Judy Aikman, Tanis Monday, Matt Mascioli, Sam Hirt, Don Weaver and Kay Weaver, all of whom were trained to fill out the forms.

Those making the task easier by their kind hospitality were Roy Acton and Bob Whiteside, New Providence Baptist Church and Rev. Mike Robinson, Judy Miller, Arlene Ford, Wendy Pearl, Mary Unger, Pastor Kathy and Jim Elliott, Cari Cox and others.

Beyond Homeless Inc., the shelter in Greencastle, is looking forward to the next eight weeks when they can be open and provide emergency and transitional housing for women and children needing it in Putnam County. Funds are being raised now.

Persons may email Tanis Monday, executive director, tanismonday@gmail.com or call Ann Newton at 653-3856 for more information.

The public is invited to the Beyond Homeless open house on 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 to celebrate its progress.

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