KINGWOOD — The Preston County Caring Council Family/Resource Network (FRN), and Starting Points serve an average of seven to 10 homeless clients each week, according to Barb Thorn, director of the FRN.
She said the men and women served are between the ages of late 20s and early 30s.
Thorn said recently Leer Mines workers and company donated 4,300 items to Starting Points to help feed the homeless.
Thorn said when a client comes to the FRN they are provided with ready to eat foods, like peanut butter, Vienna sausages, crackers, drinks and water, along with hygiene products, blankets and gloves.
“We keep some coats and shoes for adults as one person came in barefooted,” Thorn said.
Adults are not the only homeless in Preston County. Preston County Schools Student Support Specialist Stormy Matlick said there are currently 198 homeless students. She said the number has dramatically increased since 2018. Matlick said in September 2018 there were 48 homeless students.
“There is almost that many currently in West Preston alone as we had when we started in 2018. We have 40 homeless students there,” she said.
Matlick said she believed the number will increase once she completes paperwork for this year. She said the number could increase to 280 by the end of May.
Along with food, students are also provided with personal and feminine hygiene supplies.
Matlick said she believes one of the roots of the problem is parents who do not have the skill to obtain and keep the gainful employment that’s required to sustain housing.
“We have to work on helping adults obtain their GED and get the job training they need,” Matlick said.
She is currently working to get a Jobs for Life program established in Preston County. Jobs for Life’s mission is to create pathways to meaningful work and entrepreneurial opportunities through community engagement. Matlick said it’s an eight-week program that teaches interview and other job skills necessary to find employment.
Matlick said another problem that leads to homelessness in Preston County is drug addiction. She said addiction leads to grandparents and other relatives caring for children whose parents are addicted. The county has a grandparenting program that helps caregivers find the resources needed to care for their grandchildren.
Matlick said she receives help from local non-profits and civic clubs like the Lion’s Club.
“There’s 153 churches in Preston County. There’s never been a time when I contacted them for help for families that they haven’t helped,” Matlick said. “And our board is amazing. We have good teachers. Everyone jumps in and helps.”
Donations to the Caring Council can be dropped off Monday through Thursday at 105 W. High St., Kingwood, or call 304-329-1968.
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