Homelessness in Douglas County, Positive and Effective Action

This year, on June 17th, Kelly Robinson, County Commissioner for District 2 (Lithia Springs) addressed the Kiwanis Club of Douglas County . After the luncheon I was able to have a conversation with him about homelessness in our county. I have been on the United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness (RCOH)  for about two years now, and the more I learn about the Commission's work over the last seven years, the more enthusiastic I become. I was delighted when Commissioner Robinson called me this month to discuss homelessness on the DCTV23 District Dialogue  television program. I asked Phil Hunter, the project manager for RCOH’s Street to Home program to participate. In spite of the short notice, he was excited to join me, and I hope you click the link above watch the interview.

According to Wes Tallon, Communications Director for Douglas County, the recent census counted approximately 250 homeless individuals in our county. A homeless person can be defined as someone without a fixed address or someone sleeping somewhere that is not fit for human habitation.

Charities in Douglas County have made wonderful efforts in managing homelessness by providing food and clothing to homeless individuals, but there is a need to end homelessness, not just manage it. The Regional Commission's Street to Home program has actually had an impressive 75% success rate in getting chronically homeless individuals who enter their programs permanently off the streets and independent. Over 1,500 homeless individuals have been assisted by this program.

Homelessness affects us all in ways I never thought possible. For example, homeless individuals frequent local emergency rooms for numerous reasons, including things like chronic illnesses, and leave the financial burden to the hospital. For homeless individuals who live outside, burning plastics and other materials are necessary to keep warm; however, they release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere as well as risk causing brush and woods fires. Unsanitary conditions also have other unwelcome effects.

Most of all, however, we have individuals who need and deserve help. Studies show that 13% of homeless people are veterans. We certainly don't want people who have risked their lives for our country sleeping out in the woods in Douglas County. A veteran or anyone else who has reached this point in life and is willing to make the personal commitment to a lifestyle change deserves a hand up. A formerly homeless woman said, “Being homeless is like hitting rock bottom – there’s only one way to go and that’s up, but you have to be willing to go up.”

Phil Hunter will be discussing Street to Home on Friday August 12th at the noon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Douglas County at Logan's Roadhouse near the Arbor Place Mall. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Kiwanis Club is invited to attend.

Commissioner Robinson, as well as other community leaders whose ongoing efforts address the difficult challenges of our community, deserve our support and appreciation.