United Way extends partnership with Marion Shelter Program, awards emergency grant to The Salvation Army For Immediate Release June 7, 2004

Ever since the beginning of time, man has sought for shelter. From caves to condos, a place to call home. A place to hang his hat. Unfortunately, ever since the beginning of time, there have been an unfortunate few who do not have this basic necessity. Even in 2004 in Union County, there are those without a roof over their heads or on the brink of eviction. In recognition of the continuing need for assistance to those in a housing crisis, the United Way of Union County Board of Trustees recently awarded a pair of grants, extending its relationship with the Marion Shelter Program by writing a $4,984 check and granting $10,000 in emergency funding to The Salvation Army’s Housing Assistance Program. Marion Shelter Program: Part of ensuring a safety net for those in a housing crisis is making sure that emergency shelter is available for those who need it. With no homeless shelter in Union County, that made it difficult for those working in social services and even more hopeless for the homeless client. What do you tell someone who calls needing a place to stay that night when you have no where to send them? So the United Way of Union County entered into a relationship last year with the Marion Shelter Program, the nearest homeless shelter. Last year, about 10 Union County residents took shelter there. The same number of folks are on pace to utilize their services again this year. So the United Way Board of Trustees recently approved a new grant for $4,984 to the Marion Shelter Program to cover the cost of housing those Union County residents during 2004. The Marion Shelter Program is not your typical homeless shelter. In fact, you’d drive right past it if you didn’t know it was there. In a residential neighborhood, it looks like any other home on the street. It’s not a warehouse with cots, but a home with rooms, beds, a kitchen, and a living room. There are requirements that residents stay no more than 90 days, look for work daily, and save money they earn to get them back into their own permanent housing. Union County is not above a problem with homelessness. While we don’t have people begging on street corners or sleeping under bridges, there are those who will spend nights in their cars, area parks, or barns. Shelter director Mark Lovett says the typical homeless person from small-town America isn’t your stereotypical bum on the street. “A lot of Americans are a couple of paychecks away from being homeless themselves,” he said. “Folks that we run into tend to have fewer resources than the average person, but they’re not the cardboard box people you see in movies. They’re just people that find a way to live in their car or at a park. But it is a hidden social issue and it’s one that unless you deal with it, sweeping it under the rug isn’t going to make it go away.” With no shelter in Union County, homeless residents are sometimes leery about crossing the county line to another community for their immediate help. Lovett understands the fears they have of leaving their hometown and concerns about the inconvenience of being 30 miles away. But in most cases, it beats the alternative. “If they feel like they’re tied to Union County for employment reasons or for family reasons, I would suggest that they come here and check the facility out,” Lovett said. “It’s not the Holiday Inn, but it’s nice. We provide a safe, warm place for them to be. And they can commute. If they have a job and they’ve got income but they need money for gas, that’s not a problem. We give $30 a week to people who are employed to live on. If they need $45 for the extra gas, we’re going to do it.” Folks don’t need a formal referral to enter the Marion Shelter Program. They need only to show up at the 365 East Fairground Street location. For more information on the Marion Shelter Program, you can call 740-387-4550. The Salvation Army: The United Way Board of Trustees awarded $10,000 in emergency funding to the Army’s Union County Homeless Prevention Program. The Salvation Army became the United Way’s 24th Member Agency in April, but funding from that status will not kick in until 2005. This grant will fund program expenses in 2004. The Salvation Army’s program offers rent and utility assistance to those on the verge of losing their housing. A case-manager works with clients to connect them with other resources, such as employment services or child care assistance, and serves as an advocate with a landlord to help them maintain their housing.

For more information, please contact the United Way of Union County at 644-8381 or by e-mail at unitedwayuc2@imetweb.net.