Social Problem Social Problem Presentation Presentation

A Presentation Submitted ToA Presentation Submitted ToDr. Gerald MerwinDr. Gerald Merwin

In Partial Fulfillment of In Partial Fulfillment of PADM 7240 Public Administration & PADM 7240 Public Administration &

Community-Based OrganizationsCommunity-Based OrganizationsByBy

Justin M. VollmerJustin M. VollmerValdosta State UniversityValdosta State University

Valdosta, GAValdosta, GAJuly 14, 2005July 14, 2005

Social Problem: Social Problem: Homeless PopulationHomeless Population

Athens, GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaCommunity Based Organizations Community Based Organizations

and Local Government Take and Local Government Take Initiative to Aid the Local Initiative to Aid the Local

Homeless PopulationHomeless Population

► ““While women weep, as they do now, I’ll While women weep, as they do now, I’ll Fight; while little children go hungry, as they Fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll Fight; while men go to prison, in do now, I’ll Fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll Fight; while there is a poor lost girl upon the Fight; while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll Fight, I’ll fight to without the light of God, I’ll Fight, I’ll fight to the very end!”the very end!”

-William Booth-William Booth

Salvation ArmySalvation Army

Homeless DefinitionHomeless DefinitionMcKinney Act of 1987McKinney Act of 1987

Title ITitle I►Homeless may include:Homeless may include:

Lack a regular, fixed, and adequate Lack a regular, fixed, and adequate nighttime residence (or)nighttime residence (or)

Live in a shelter or transitional housing Live in a shelter or transitional housing residence for homeless persons (or)residence for homeless persons (or)

Live in a temporary residence for Live in a temporary residence for persons waiting for institutionalization persons waiting for institutionalization (or)(or)

Homeless DefinitionHomeless Definition(Cont.)(Cont.)

Are sleeping in a place not intended for Are sleeping in a place not intended for human beings (or)human beings (or)

Will be evicted within one week from their Will be evicted within one week from their home (or)home (or)

Will be discharged within one week from Will be discharged within one week from institutions where they have lived for institutions where they have lived for more than 30 days in a row.more than 30 days in a row.►Note: Persons in jail or persons living with Note: Persons in jail or persons living with

friends or relatives are NOT considered friends or relatives are NOT considered homeless.homeless.

Source: www.arches.uga.edu/~meglenn/homelessness.htmlSource: www.arches.uga.edu/~meglenn/homelessness.html

Scope of the ProblemScope of the Problem

►NationallyNationally Any given night- 700,000 to 2 Million Any given night- 700,000 to 2 Million

homeless in Americahomeless in America►Single men make up approximately 44 percent Single men make up approximately 44 percent

of homelessof homeless Single Women: 13 percentSingle Women: 13 percent Families With Children: 36 percentFamilies With Children: 36 percent

(Source: www.policyalmanac.org)(Source: www.policyalmanac.org)

Scope of the ProblemScope of the Problem

► Athens, GaAthens, Ga 246 homeless adults246 homeless adults 27 homeless childen27 homeless childen

These numbers taken from These numbers taken from 2002 survey count. In 1999, 2002 survey count. In 1999, the homeless count found just the homeless count found just 123 123 adults that were homeless adults that were homeless in Athens, GA. The number has in Athens, GA. The number has gone up drastically. The gone up drastically. The amount of people homeless in amount of people homeless in Athens in 2005 is sure to be Athens in 2005 is sure to be much higher.much higher.

(Source: Athens Banner Herald 2002)(Source: Athens Banner Herald 2002)

Photo: Local area homeless (Athens, Ga)

Reasons for Becoming Reasons for Becoming HomelessHomeless

► DivorceDivorce► UnemploymentUnemployment► Unable to pay rent/mortgageUnable to pay rent/mortgage► Argument with family/friendsArgument with family/friends► Family member or personal Family member or personal

illnessillness► Drug/Alcohol abuseDrug/Alcohol abuse► Physical or mental disabilitiesPhysical or mental disabilities► Family ViolenceFamily Violence► Prison/JailPrison/Jail► Welfare time limitsWelfare time limits

(Source: http://www.thn.org/surveys/reason/reason.htm(Source: http://www.thn.org/surveys/reason/reason.htm

Where Help Can Be FoundWhere Help Can Be Found► Athens Area Homeless ShelterAthens Area Homeless Shelter

Provides transitional help and public awarenessProvides transitional help and public awareness www.athensareahomelessshelter.orgwww.athensareahomelessshelter.org

► Salvation Army-Athens CorpsSalvation Army-Athens Corps Provides a ministry of God and helps to meet human needsProvides a ministry of God and helps to meet human needs www.salvationarmy-georgia.orgwww.salvationarmy-georgia.org

► The Potter’s HouseThe Potter’s House Assists to overcome drug and alcohol addictionsAssists to overcome drug and alcohol addictions

► Athens Homeless Day Service CenterAthens Homeless Day Service Center Provides the homeless with a place to do laundry, receive mail, Provides the homeless with a place to do laundry, receive mail,

etc.etc.

More Help…More Help…

► The Healing Place of The Healing Place of AthensAthens Drug and alcohol Drug and alcohol

treatment centertreatment center

► Project SafeProject Safe Provides shelter for women Provides shelter for women

and children who are and children who are victims of domestic victims of domestic violenceviolence

www.project-safe.orgwww.project-safe.org

► Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity Creates affordable housingCreates affordable housing www.habitat.orgwww.habitat.org

Department of Community Department of Community AffairsAffairs

“Press Announcement”“Press Announcement”►On July 7, 2005 DCA announced $5.5 On July 7, 2005 DCA announced $5.5

million to assist homeless Georgiansmillion to assist homeless Georgians Among the recipients in Athens, GAAmong the recipients in Athens, GA

►Advantage Behavioral Health Systems (runs the Advantage Behavioral Health Systems (runs the Athens Homeless Day Service Center - $20,000Athens Homeless Day Service Center - $20,000

►Athens Area Homeless Shelter - $60,000Athens Area Homeless Shelter - $60,000►Food Bank of Northeast Georgia - $7,500Food Bank of Northeast Georgia - $7,500►The Healing Place of Athens - $26,400The Healing Place of Athens - $26,400

(Source: (Source: www.dca.state.ga.uswww.dca.state.ga.us / Press Release) / Press Release)

Athens Area Homeless Athens Area Homeless ShelterShelter

►Main source of help to homeless in Main source of help to homeless in AthensAthens Strives to work cooperatively with the Strives to work cooperatively with the

community to eliminate homelessness community to eliminate homelessness and educate the public on the many and educate the public on the many complex social reasons to may lead to complex social reasons to may lead to homelessness.homelessness.

AAHS recieves 40% of their funding from AAHS recieves 40% of their funding from donations alone.donations alone.

Athens Area Homeless ShelterAthens Area Homeless ShelterServices/ProgramsServices/Programs

►Almost Home programAlmost Home program Provides Single women and single women Provides Single women and single women

with families with a comfortable and safe with families with a comfortable and safe residenceresidence

Case managers work with women/families Case managers work with women/families extensively to achieve mutual goals.extensively to achieve mutual goals.

►Nancy Travis HouseNancy Travis House Child care voucher programChild care voucher program

Athens Area Homeless ShelterAthens Area Homeless ShelterServices/Programs(Cont.)Services/Programs(Cont.)

► Job Trec (Job Training, Education, Referral)Job Trec (Job Training, Education, Referral) Provides employment and education Provides employment and education

assistanceassistance This program first funded by HUD in 1996 also This program first funded by HUD in 1996 also

provides:provides:►Case managementCase management►Transportation to/from workTransportation to/from work►Child careChild care►Drug testingDrug testing►CounselingCounseling►Health Care assistanceHealth Care assistance

Food Bank of Northeast Food Bank of Northeast GeorgiaGeorgia

►Distributes food from donorsDistributes food from donors Acquires and distributes food that would Acquires and distributes food that would

otherwise be wasted.otherwise be wasted.

Run/Walk for Home 5KRun/Walk for Home 5K

► Proceeds from race Proceeds from race benefit seven local benefit seven local charities.charities. Including: Athens Including: Athens

Area Homeless Area Homeless Shelter, Habitat for Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Project Humanity, Project Safe, Salvation Safe, Salvation Army.Army.

► Last Year (2004)Last Year (2004) Raised $2,500Raised $2,500

The Homeless and the The Homeless and the GovernmentGovernment

“The criminalization of the “The criminalization of the homeless”homeless”►Homelessness runs into many conflicts Homelessness runs into many conflicts

with local governments.with local governments.►Criminalization of Homelessness:Criminalization of Homelessness:

““laws and practices that discriminate laws and practices that discriminate against homeless people, including laws against homeless people, including laws that specifically target them or activities that specifically target them or activities they must engage in because they are they must engage in because they are homeless”homeless”

““Criminalization” (cont.)Criminalization” (cont.)

►Many communities have enacted ordinances Many communities have enacted ordinances making it illegal to engage in certain making it illegal to engage in certain activities like:activities like: Sleeping in the park/urban campingSleeping in the park/urban camping Sitting or lying on public benchesSitting or lying on public benches Urinating in public with no public restrooms Urinating in public with no public restrooms

availableavailable PanhandlingPanhandling Eating from trashcans, dumpstersEating from trashcans, dumpsters Etc. Etc.

(Source: Source: www.arches.uga.edu/~meglenn/homelessness.html)www.arches.uga.edu/~meglenn/homelessness.html)

Conflicts of Non-profits in the Conflicts of Non-profits in the CommunityCommunity

►Many neighborhoods do not want Many neighborhoods do not want rehabilitation/crisis centers in their rehabilitation/crisis centers in their neighborhood.neighborhood.

►Non-profits must lobby and speak out Non-profits must lobby and speak out to the government and media to the government and media regarding issues which are important regarding issues which are important for homeless.for homeless. i.e. Lobby against laws that criminalize i.e. Lobby against laws that criminalize

some parts of being homeless.some parts of being homeless.

Cooperation with Cooperation with GovernmentGovernment

► In Athens, most homeless aid and In Athens, most homeless aid and assistance comes from non-profit assistance comes from non-profit organizations, though federal and organizations, though federal and state money is dispersed locally to state money is dispersed locally to these organizations. these organizations.

►Shelters work with government, Shelters work with government, especially the police to combat drug especially the police to combat drug and alcohol programs among and alcohol programs among homeless. homeless.

Devolution of Homeless AidDevolution of Homeless Aid

►Federal government is turning over Federal government is turning over more and more responsibility for social more and more responsibility for social welfare programs to state and local welfare programs to state and local jurisdictions (especially private non-jurisdictions (especially private non-profits).profits).

…….Increase Cooperation .Increase Cooperation between Government and Non-between Government and Non-

profitsprofits► Many non-profits that give aid to the homeless Many non-profits that give aid to the homeless

must continue to provide a voice for people in must continue to provide a voice for people in need.need.

► Support of non-profits must come in large Support of non-profits must come in large numbers from community.numbers from community. Educating community on the severity and Educating community on the severity and

extensiveness of problem is important.extensiveness of problem is important.

► Non-profits must continue to search for Non-profits must continue to search for volunteers and lobby for homeless rights and volunteers and lobby for homeless rights and proper funding to meet the needs of the proper funding to meet the needs of the community.community.

Success of Homeless Success of Homeless ProgramsPrograms

►The actual success rates of homeless The actual success rates of homeless programs is hard to measure because programs is hard to measure because of the unknown “durability” and length of the unknown “durability” and length of success.of success. Athens Area Homeless Shelter places Athens Area Homeless Shelter places

many homeless people into permanent many homeless people into permanent residences but the length and “durability” residences but the length and “durability” of their placement is hard to measure.of their placement is hard to measure.

Success (Cont.)Success (Cont.)

►The amount of homeless shelter The amount of homeless shelter services has been drastically inclining.services has been drastically inclining. In 1974, there were only four such In 1974, there were only four such

facilities in the Atlanta area.facilities in the Atlanta area. Now there are over 100 shelters in the Now there are over 100 shelters in the

metropolitan Atlanta.metropolitan Atlanta.

ConclusionConclusion

►Homelessness remains a problem in Homelessness remains a problem in almost every U.S. community.almost every U.S. community. Fortunately with the help of community Fortunately with the help of community

based organizations and local, state, and based organizations and local, state, and federal assistance, many homeless can federal assistance, many homeless can find aid and eventually permanent find aid and eventually permanent residence.residence.