Homeless In Porter County

Last night I wasn't sure how the topic of the support group meeting would apply to me. Tom Isakson was with us and the topic was "Homeless in Porter County." How could I really relate to the homeless situation? I donate money to shelters, I pass on clothing and hygiene products. I have empathy for the homeless, but when I see a person with a cardboard sign asking for my money while they smoke a cigarette all I really feel is disgusted. Why don't they get a job? They are in front of McDonald's whose "help wanted" sign is clearly visible. I almost didn't attend this meeting and that would have been a tragedy because Tom Isakson opened my eyes to a side of homelessness that I had not seen. It was an enlightening experience.

I learned that the fastest growing population of homelessness in our area are families. Approximately 300 children in our area go to bed each night not knowing where they will sleep tomorrow or the next night. 150 of these children are under the age of six. There are about 750 people without a home in Porter County each year. This number continues to grow.

There are three basic types of homelessness. The first being Chronic Homelessness.
These people are often homeless for a long time. These are the people we typically think of when we hear the word "homeless." They often dress in rags, eat from dumpsters, and live in squalor. There are four primary reasons that we, as a group, were able to list for chronic homelessness.
1. Chronic Sever Mental Illness. Without medication these people are unable to get help.
2. Substance Abuse/Gambling Addiction. Gov't cuts have made it more difficult for these people to get the help they need to recover.
3. Duel Diagnosis. Both Sever Mental illness and substance addiction.
4. Post traumatic Stress Disorder. These people have suffered such trauma that they are unable to deal with life. They have no hope and no will to live. They could be war veterans, domestic violence victims, suffered the tragic death of a loved one or a child, or the collapse of their business. I can't help but wonder if this population will grow as soldiers return from Iraq as it did when our forces returned from Vietnam.

Next we have One Time Homelessness. People often bounce back from this type of homelessness. The causes for one time homelessness could effect any of us.
1. Fire
2. Divorce
3. Domestic violence/trauma
4. Natural disasters
5. Joblessness. People living paycheck to paycheck without savings.
I remember seeing a TV program once that said "we are all three paychecks away from being homeless." With that in mind, this could be any of us.

Last we have Episodic Homelessness. This is the largest growing category and the one that includes the most children.
1. Living from friend to friend, never knowing where the next bed will be.
2. May get ahead for a while and then slip, never really attaining stability.
A. Bad luck
B. Chronic illness. Off and on physical, mental, or medical disability that effects their work ability.
C. Low wages. At $5.15 an hour you need work a 107 hour week to afford the average apartment.
D. Single parenting/unpaid child support. The district attorney's office just can't keep up.
E. Life skills deficits. Usually money management issues are the biggest problem.
a. Impulsive spending. Often the result of illness such as bipolar disorder.
b. Emotional control/poor anger management. Not able to control their anger and keep a job or getting in trouble with the law for fighting.
c. Poor impulse control. Calling in sick because they feel like it or not showing up on time.
d. Poor or low education. No post graduate education or trade school. No job training.
e. Dysfunctional families. Most adults that go through the shelter had dysfunctional families. These people lived with abusive, alcoholic, or non-existent parents. The most important job of a parent is to teach a child that they are loved. This doesn't cost anything and anyone can do it. We could all work toward ending the dysfunctional family in America by simply teaching love.
The second thing we can all do is promise to be the very best friend to our friends that we can be. Ask what we can do to help in a time of loss or crisis. Don't desert them when the worst appears to be over. Hang in there and be a friend for the long haul.

Tom has some definite thoughts about what America needs to do to help stop homelessness. Raising the minimum wage to make it a wage that people could actually live on. Employers need to stop hiring part-time workers that they don't have to pay benefits to. Welfare is the only gov't fund that has not seen a cost of living increase since 1985. More and more jobs are done by robots and computers or outsourced.

Homelessness is increasing by 5% a year in Porter County alone. The Spring Valley Shelter (a shelter for families) is only able to provide shelter to about 12% of those who ask for help due to their small size. The only other gov't owned housing in Porter County is the Hospital and the County Jail.

Christian Community Action is trying to raise $1,750,000.00 to build and support a bigger shelter. This campaign is called "Raise A Roof." If you can help with a tax deductible contribution please contact the CCA at ccaopc@netnitco.net or by phone at 219-548-2379.
The shelter could also use contributions of clothing, food, toys, books, bedding items, and volunteers. If you can help contact Tom Isakson, Program Director, at springva@netnitco.net or call 219-465-1022. The CCA motto is Housing for today. Hope for tomorrow. Remember that every little bit helps.