Three-year strategy to aid homeless being developed

Seriousness of St. Mary's problem remains difficult to gauge

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

A January 2008 survey found 1,884 people were homeless in the county. Of those 111 of them were considered chronically homeless, 153 were assessed as severely mentally ill, 125 people were found to be chronic substance abusers, 51 of them were victims of domestic violence and seven were military veterans.

This year's survey of homeless in St. Mary's produced surprising results.

The total number found was 1,198, a decline of 686 people.

"All of us were sort of surprised that the numbers were down," said Bennett Connelly, director of the county's human services department.

He said there was probably a glitch in collection or reporting. The homeless prevention board will discuss this year's homeless survey at their next meeting, he said.

The human services department presented a three-year plan to the St. Mary's County commissioners Tuesday for approval in an effort to find these people permanent shelter, for more prevention of homelessness and "rapid re-housing," Connelly said Thursday.

There are three shelters aiding those who are homeless in St. Mary's. Angels' Watch in Hughesville is run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and has 41 beds. Three Oaks Center in Lexington Park has 94 beds for men, women and children. Leah's House in Valley Lee has 14 beds for women and children.

"Three Oaks reports a large percentage of their clients present with mental health and/or substance abuse problems," the report said. "That is not the case with Angels' Watch and Leah's House, who indicate poverty and domestic abuse are often seen with their residents."

The three-year homeless prevention plan would make Walden/Sierra the public point for information for the homeless and the department of social services as the intake agency.

The result of the plan should be better tracking of progress in combating homelessness and "putting down on paper relationships that have been formed" between agencies that work with the homeless, Connelly said.

"It's one of those important issues we need to address as a community," he said.

The number of families seeking assistance from the government continues in this depressed economy.

There were 485 families getting temporary cash assistance from social services last year, according to the report, up from 330 the year before and 280 the year before that.

The number of food stamp customers was up to 7,684 last year, beyond the numbers from previous years.

"There is a growing number of people who are becoming homeless due to the current economy," the report said. "These are people who are skilled but due to loss of employment are finding themselves in a situation they never imagined they would be in. Homelessness due to illness or lack of income is a tragedy that can happen to anyone."

jbabcock@somdnews.com