The “Heart of Illinois Homelessness Continuum of Care, composed of 30 agencies serving four counties has a main goal of prevention thru education and resource sharing”, Amy Cahill, chair of the organization, is quoted in the JS on 3/6/06 “Peoria and the surrounding area is rich in services but we don’t always do a good job of working together. Another key goal for us is to develop 250 new affordable, safe and decent housing units by 2016.” Ms. Cahill says about one third each of the homeless, are mentally ill, alcoholics and drug abusers and people who have maybe made a bad choice. The average age of the 556 homeless interviewed locally was 10 years.”
Back in November of 1993, I was part of a newly organized group called the “Homeless Youth Coalition” or (HOIUW) an offshoot of the Tri County Community Partnership. Headquarters were in the Peoria Area Community Foundation offices. This group was organized shortly after an article appeared in the JS on November 15, 1993, titled “Sheltering city’s poor remains an uphill battle. The homeless are going from shelter to shelter each night” said Pam Schubach, YWCA Executive Director. “Many of the homeless people come from public housing and refuse to go back. They know the horror of living there” said Vicky Berchtold from the Southside Mission. This article was sparked by a paid assessment made by the Enterprise Foundation of Maryland in 1991 and the assumed failure of the community to act on recommendations made.
Members of HOIUW were names like Parks, Krupa, Lenart, Haerr, Oakford, Davis, Frank, Day, Simpkins, Vonachen, Leitch, Gorenz, Wogsland, Kennedy, Nelson, Nolde, Bennett, Stroud and Williamson. I was named Chairman of Public Relations.John Lenart was named Chairman of the coalition.
Funds were raised, visits and phone calls to other communities were made, many meetings were held and YWCA plans were listened to. Eventually, the YWCA got a mid 6 figure grant to convert part of the YW into more transitional housing units.
A deal was struck with the Fire Chief and the City Council that since the firehouses were open 24 hours a day, these firehouses would be a safe haven for the homeless to go to in times of emergency. Fliers were posted, articles appeared in the newspapers and after a year had passed, the program was discontinued Only one fire station reported anyone stopping in for help.
On April 12, 2000 a letter to “Dear Valued Homeless Youth Coalition Member” read in summation: “The community has devolved over time to now include a Homeless Commission (city) and the Peoria Area Homeless Consortium (Peoria, Woodford, Fulton and Tazewell), both with youth representation. (As a member of the Peoria County Board since 2000, I know we have helped implement low cost housing programs but I am not aware of a homeless consortium or the need for one in the county not including the City of Peoria) The Coalition’s initial focus was on program implementation, over time the focus was achieved and the group’s focus seemed unclear which led to poor attendance and a decrease in ownership. There were several attempts to address various issues or to take on a new role but this was unsuccessful. There are other entities in our community that can do and do address homeless issues on a broader base with youth representation. There have been well over 600 youths that have received help since the inception of the program.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your time, efforts, commitment and most importantly your desire to help meet the needs of the youth of this community.” Signed Jeff A Gress, Director of Youth Service; Children’s Home.
That was the closing statement of HOIUW.
There are several billions of words written on the subject, hundreds of millions spent on “experts” opinions, hundred of thousands or groups and committees formed and dissolved and the problem is still out there. Maybe an article written by Ms. Heather MacDonald appearing on 11/17/1997 sums it up best. Her lengthy article describing the futility of trying to help people who don’t want to help themselves she says, is best narrated in a document “To Reach the Homeless” written by Columbia journalism professor Bruce Porter described as a jaw-dropping account of the homelessness outreach profession. On the other side of the issue ,Ms. MacDonald also quotes Rev.James A. Forbes, Jr., pastor of the Manhattan’s Riverside Church “We should value the one gift the homeless bring is the ability to say “No”, saying that is a strength , and why the homeless are so beset by illness and fear.”
Ms. MacDonald closing paragraph reads “The advocates may see the homeless as martyrs to American injustice, or as free spirits marching to a different drummer but by now most of the rest of us see them as confused marching to disaster – thanks to the policies designed by homeless advocates.”
As to the mentally impaired, the question is by whose judgment and to what extent impaired? Do you hold them against their will? How do you do that? Bring back Zeller? More care for the mental I support but not locking them up unless they are a threat to others. Even then, you could not hold someone who wanted leave the building. How can the homeless take care of a nice house? Many never learned how, certainly not those now on the streets who might have spent some time in Peoria School District #150. How do you treat those who barricade themselves and are prepared to resist service providers at all costs? You want to put them in homes around law abiding people just like we leave disruptive kids in some schools and classroms to disrupt others?
Do all you can as an individual or as a group to help those in need. I applaud you all. Be careful what you are asking the responsible tax paying voting citizenry to do in the way of more funding. As I’ve implored before, I do not want to die in a socialist country filled with pacifist do gooders unless they do the funding themselves. Most of us learned responsibility. I expect others I must live with and around to be responsible also.
More preventative programs I support. More free everything with no responsibility, I don't.
Everyone needs help now and then. That help should be transitory; not permanent unless disabled and no family support. Even then, help must come with some responsibility.
Examine the past on this subject as older than the pyramids. Do not try to reinvent the wheel. Find the programs that have had some successes and good luck!!
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