I have been following the Bellows Falls warming shelter controversy with interest. There are no easy answers to the problems of homelessness, and I believe both those in favor and in opposition to the warming shelter make valid points. No one should sleep out in the cold, and yes, to a degree, a warming shelter is a Band-Aid approach to dealing with the issues faced by many homeless people.
I do take exception to the statement in your editorial of Dec. 14 regarding homelessness that “[n]o one on the local, state, or federal levels is doing anything substantive about these issues.”
You couldn't be further off base! A lot of agencies and individuals address the issues of homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, and joblessness every day.
The Springfield Supported Housing Program (SSHP) is a small (five-employee), private, non-profit agency whose mission is to place homeless families and individuals from Windsor to Bellows Falls in affordable housing and provide them with in home case management for up to two years after placement.
Since its inception in 2006, the program has placed more than 500 people (including 44 adults and 39 children from Bellows Falls) in permanent housing with case management.
Richard McInerney founded the program after 17 years as the director of Morningside Shelter in Brattleboro. He and shelter staff recognized over 20 years ago that many homeless people have experienced significant life trauma and have issues and behaviors that can and do lead to homelessness.
Morningside and community members have also founded the Service Enriched Housing Program in conjunction with the Brattleboro Area Community Land Trust (now the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust).
This program places homeless families and individuals in clean, affordable Land Trust apartments with a case manager who visit every week for up to two years.
Program participants have written goals and are expected to be good tenants (pay rent, keep their units clean, and be good neighbors) and to address any and all issues that contributed to their homelessness. Case managers assist participants by connecting them to services, by encouraging them, and by holding them accountable as needed.
SSHP has replicated many elements of that successful model and collaborates with state and local agencies to provide those experiencing homelessness with quality, affordable housing with a variety of landlords, and ongoing support to access vital services.
It has always been our experience that the keys to housing the homeless are: accurate assessment of the issues that led to homelessness, a plan to address those issues, honest collaboration with landlords which focuses on positive tenancy, and expecting program participants to do what is necessary to move their lives forward (much like all of us).
In other words, a hand up, not a hand out.