Wells community helped keep local shelter open, but more help is needed
By SYDNEY KENT
The board members of Yehoshua, Inc, a nonprofit located in downtown Bluffton, recently found themselves in a similar position to the people that they serve: in urgent need of help.
“We were essentially bankrupt at the end of November,” Pastor Neil Ainslie, founder of the organization, explained. “I ran the books, and according to my calculations, we needed $4,400 to continue operations. Otherwise we were going to be forced to shut down immediately. I sent an email out — it was a call for help.”
Ainslie said he experienced a culmination of fear and hope over who might answer.
“God is faithful and comes through,” Ainslie hesitated. “But at that time, we were at a point where we would not be able to pay our future bills. We were already behind for the month of November. In the back of my mind, I knew God would help bring us the right people and let people know how dire of a situation we were in. This is a cycle I’ve been going through over the nearly two years since we started serving the homeless in Wells County. This ministry formed out of an immediate and urgent need. We hit the ground running without the time to do the customary and necessary things involved.”
Life Community Church, the Missionary and Apolostolic churches, a local sorority, a service club, as well as individuals, all donated to the nonprofit. Christine Walker, executive director of Community Care, offered ideas for additional resources. Ainslie explained that the nonprofit also allows him to access needed items and clothing at Change-Up Thrift Store for those experiencing homelessness.
“We now have enough funds to continue operations until the end of January,” Ainslie’s tone reflected his concern. “We still need a lot of aid to continue.”
Ainslie emphasized that a lack of visibility to the public has contributed to the gap in funding for the organization so far.
“We are here to fill a need that this community and county has,” Gene Valovich, a board member for Yehoshua, added. “People don’t understand that we are here. We are housing people that are in dire need that have no place to go. We get calls from the police department and many others that reach out to us. And sadly, a lot of the time, we just don’t have the finances to help.”
Ainslie is often contacted by emergency services when a homeless person has been reported; he also serves as the director of the local Salvation Army. According to dispatch logs, the county law enforcement have received at least 10 reports of homeless subjects that live in their vehicle or under the Main Street bridge since June. Some, though not all, of these reports may involve the same individual.
Ainslie explained it is important to recognize that not all who are homeless are open to receiving help. Addiction and mental health provide significant barriers to support.
“I suspect that some of them are caught up in either alcohol or drugs,” Ainslie explained. “With our limited means, we don’t have that ability to serve those in addiction. Thankfully, the opening of Hannah’s House will help some women in the area. We don’t have anything equivalent for men right now. We have to transport them out of the county. One of the limitations for people coming here is that they have to blow double zeros — meaning no alcohol in the system at all.”
Susan Scarlett, a crisis counselor and board member for the nonprofit, explained that in addition to addiction, deinstitutionalization has contributed to the growing homeless population. Deinstitutionalization is the process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with community-based mental health services, which involves moving patients into community homes or into a family residence.
“Deinstitutionalization removed the only residential facilities available for the severely mentally ill,” Scarlett explained. “There were real concerns for the movement, but there were not real services put in place to bridge the gap that was created. There is a large portion of the homeless population that suffer from schizophrenia and similar disorders, and they often do not have families that can or will care for them. Their only option is the street.”
More programming is needed for Yehoshua to provide a full continuum of care, which will also require additional funding. Scarlett emphasized that it is not uncommon for someone to turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the harsh reality of living without a home.
“Addiction is a big factor as well,” Scarlett paused. “That does not mean it was the reason a person originally became homeless, even though it may now contribute. They still need help.”
According to Ainslie, there is some hope on the horizon for both Yehoshua and Hannah’s House for potential future government funding.
Every January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts a “point-in-time” count of people experiencing homelessness on one single night of the year. The survey aims to count people who are sleeping in emergency shelters, transitional housing, safe havens, or places not meant for human habitation.
Ainslie explained that the results from this survey are used to better understand the scope of homelessness as well as to determine where to allocate funds. This is the first year Wells County will be included in the count, which means organizations that qualify could receive aid. However, it would likely be several years before financial assistance is available.
“We will have a table set up at Kate’s Kitchen the day the count is conducted,” Ainslie began. “This will help us identify the people who may need help and be homeless. We also plan to go to the city cemetery to see if there is anyone there and other locations. I’ve received reports that there are permanent tents and encampments in the area. We are aware there is at least one subject there who does not want help or want to be near any people.”
Anyone with an interest in giving a tax-deductible donation may bring or mail items to 116 South Johnson St. Questions may be directed to Neil Ainslie at 260-307-2205.
Additionally, care packages that consist of hygiene items, food, and blankets will be available to distribute to anyone located in an encampment or living outside. Ainslie said that donations of these items are needed. Someone who is homeless likely does not have access to a can opener, so easy to open cans are requested. Shelf-stable food, blankets, gloves, hats, coats, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, water bottles, and disposable silverware and dinnerware are needed. In addition to emergency shelter, Yehoshua provides a food pantry for anyone in the community in emergency need of food.
“There was a person between the library and the church,” Ainslie said simply as he explained the reason resources for the nonprofit are needed. “We were full in November when a friend contacted me about him, and with limited resources, we have lost sight of him. I hope that he has housing. It’s getting colder. I hope he is warm.”
sydney@news-banner.com
