Fifteen households off the streets and into housing by Christmas.
That’s the goal of a new initiative kicking off later this week with a meeting of stakeholders from across the community representing fields ranging from law enforcement to social services to city and county government and even real estate and rentals.
The name of the effort is A Home for the Holidays, but the sentiment behind it is “less talk, more action,” according to Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom.
He said that’s what the community is looking for when it comes to Morgantown’s downtown business district.
Business owners addressed the County Commission last week to ask if it would help the city in addressing these concerns, which they’ve described as an epidemic of homelessness, loitering, substance abuse and criminal or otherwise unwanted behavior downtown.
Since that meeting, Bloom said he’s been working with Rachael Coen, chief programs officer with the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, on a plan to address homelessness, which, he explained, is just one face of a complex, multifaceted issue.
“It’s a daunting goal, but we want to move 15 families, households or individuals from the streets into housing by Dec. 25,” Bloom said. “Can we get it done in time? I don’t know, but I believe the community wants us to try. We’ve done a lot of talking and a lot of blaming. I don’t want to fix the blame. I want to fix the problem, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Bloom said Coen was able to secure funding through WVCEH to cover rent costs. The agency will also provide case management oversight and work with other providers to help address clients’ needs, be they related to mental or physical health issues and/or other barriers to entering the workforce, like substance abuse.
Douglas M. Leech, founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services, will be among those serving on the task force.
“Some cities do things like put boulders on sidewalks to keep people off or buy bus tickets for the homeless population. Well, these are our brothers and sisters here in town that have this issue. They’re valuable people and we need to care for them,” Leech said, explaining that the concerns of businesses downtown can and should be addressed while also treating everyone with dignity and compassion.
Leech said he and his team at West Virginia Sober Living and Ascension Recovery Services are ready to do whatever they can to make this effort a success.
“Folks need help and we’re going to help them. We’re going to do whatever it takes,” Leech said. “I’m passionate about this. I’m a person in long-term recovery. I’ve gone through lots of hardships in my life in active addiction. I turned a lot of people off to me, but there were people, especially my family, that never gave up on me. It’s only right to pay that forward.”
Morgantown City Councilor Zack Cruze said he also plans to be a part of the task force.
Cruze has spoken publicly about his own experiences with homelessness and has detailed his efforts in reaching out to agencies, both local and statewide, to get a handle on the issues facing Morgantown.
He said the fact that the task force looks to include a variety of individuals from various agencies and entities across the greater Morgantown area gives it a fighting chance.
“I’m excited to see a community-wide approach, because that’s really what it’s going to take. It can’t be one agency or one individual, the city or the county or the business owners,” Cruze said. “One group can’t solve this. It’s going to take all of us coming together and I’m really excited about that.”
Cruze said getting people off the street and into a home is key, but it’s only the first step.
“You have to have a wraparound approach that addresses all the barriers. When it comes to homelessness, we’re looking at mental health, medical needs, budgeting and life skill needs, supplies. You have to take a holistic approach, Cruze said.
“You can’t just put someone in a home and say the problem is solved because it’s not putting someone in a home that’s difficult, it’s maintaining that new environment.”
Bloom said the plan is to work with social service agencies and business owners downtown to find and vet those who would be interested in the assistance.
“[Coen] said she’s got the funding for 15 households, so we’re going for it,” he said. “We’ll work with the community on everything from filling the fridge with food to finding beds, couches, tables and chairs, even holiday decorations and gifts.”
Right now, Bloom explained, one of the major unknowns is how responsive local landlords will be to making homes or apartments available for this program.
He admits the goal is ambitious and time is tight.
“Again, will it be successful? I certainly hope so, but if nothing else, it’s the first step in a plan to address one of the aspects and problems that we’re dealing with in the downtown,” he said. “Even if we can get five or 10 [households] before the holidays, great. It’s action, and I really do believe action speaks louder than words.”
Coen was not available for comment in time for this report.
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