The Faces of Homelessness
Elizabeth and her daughter in the apartment that Family Promise helped them find. Hannah Sharpe
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Recently five Sandhills women sat around a table at a popular local lunch spot talking about the plight of being homeless in Moore County.
If a casual bystander had been asked to pick out which two of the women were homeless, probably he or she would have been hard pressed to make the right choice.
The face of homelessness can be hard to detect, but the problem is severely impacting families and single people who have lost their jobs, or have had serious health issues preventing them from working. In Moore County, the faces of the homeless can belong to a single mother with an infant, an elderly man who is a veteran, or an African-American mother trying to raise children by herself.
The first-ever informal homelessness survey in the county, covering schools, medical institutions and shelters, counted 1,110 instances of homelessness in 2009, and a recent survey for the month of September showed 208 instances of homelessness for families and single persons.
Getting an accurate count for the homeless in Moore County is difficult because there are reports of people sleeping in cars in the driveways of relatives who aren’t able to house them, and numerous families who stay in a motel temporarily — so many in fact that one motel on U.S. 1 is a regular school bus stop. There are others who double up with friends for short periods of time, until they can find another friend or relative to stay with for a while.
One of the agencies in Moore County dedicated to alleviating homelessness is Family Promise of Moore County, a nonprofit organization. Last year it offered 2,745 nights of shelter to 68 individuals and 49 children. Susan Bellew, executive director of that organization, points out that they provide shelter, meals and hospitality to homeless families with children through a cooperative network of local congregations.
FPMC also gives assistance in the areas of transportation, compassionate supportive services, and advocacy to assist those who are without a home in achieving their potential of independent living. Eligibility requirements include being employed or actively pursuing employment or receiving Social Security disability benefits, as well as being drug and alcohol free and not suffering from an untreated mental illness.
Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth was a client of Family Promise. She says that she came from a stable family background, graduated from Sandhills Community College with a degree in criminal justice and subsequently left the area.
Then, an unfortunate set of circumstances prompted her to move back home after the birth of her second child.
“I had lost a lot of money, I had lost my car in an accident, and had no place to turn,” she says.
She describes a deteriorating relationship with her parents, who were also raising her niece.
“We argued all the time, and I was constantly put down,” Elizabeth says. “I couldn’t go back to my job in corrections in Raleigh because of a lack of transportation. I started working at a local retail store on a part-time basis at minimum wage and went on countless interviews trying to find a job that would pay me enough to support my family on my own. When things got too bitter with my parents, I relied on Family Promise.”
Ultimately, Elizabeth found a job as an office manager for a contractor, and she is learning new skills. She has transportation through the Family Promise Wheels for Work program and has recently moved into an apartment in Southern Pines housing.
Until Elizabeth got back on her feet, the experience of being homeless was hardest on her children, now 3 and 9, she says.
“I so desperately wanted to be able to tell them that everything was going to be OK, when I didn’t know what the next day would bring,” she says. “I had never been in the position of asking for things that my kids needed. They were bewildered by being around people they didn’t know, and my son always had questions that I couldn’t answer. Trying to reassure them was the toughest part of being homeless.”
Teresa’s Tale
Teresa, with daughters ages 13 and 5, agrees with Elizabeth, although the story about the circumstances leading up to her being homeless is different.
She had moved to an apartment in Carthage from Davidson County and had gotten a grant to study childhood education.
“I loved working with children, even though I was providing for my daughters on a payday to payday basis,” she says. “Everything was going fine until I got a brain aneurysm and was hospitalized. While I was in the hospital, I missed one month’s payment of rent, and was evicted. It didn’t matter that I had always paid my rent on time. The owners decided that I wouldn’t be able to ever go back to work or keep up with future rent payments, so when I got out of the hospital, my daughters and I didn’t have any place to call home.”
Then Teresa heard about Family Promise. She spent her recovery days at the FPMC center in Aberdeen, and took advantage of the FPMC program with local congregations at night.
The FPMC day center serves as an address for the families, has a telephone where messages can be taken, has shower facilities and a washer and dryer. At the congregations which are part of the program, families are offered hospitality, served an evening meal and breakfast and have a safe, comfortable place to stay.
Ultimately Teresa was able to get Social Security disability benefits and was able to find housing.
“I am so proud of my daughters, who didn’t complain about the upheaval our situation caused in their lives,” she says, brushing away a tear.
How to Help
Local agencies in addition to FPMC that are seeking to make a difference in the lives of the homeless include the Department of Social Services, Moore County Veterans Services, Sandhills Coalition for Human Care, Sandhills Community Action Program, Bethesda House, Bethany House, Friend to Friend and Linden Lodge Foundation.
Calling attention to the problem of homelessness in Moore County, St. Joseph in the Pines has undertaken an extensive project, the goal of which is to educate and inform the public about who the homeless are in the county.
Susie Buchanan, director of community relations for St. Joseph in the Pines, describes the initiative that has been launched during the month of November.
“The Moore County Board of Commissioners has issued a proclamation designating “Homeless Awareness Week” as Nov. 14 – 20, and we are using radio announcements, posters in retail businesses and ads in the newspaper to get our point across,” she says. “Our purpose is to let people know how serious a problem homelessness has become. We are issuing a call to action.”
Buchanan explains there are four ways to help.
One is by signing a petition of support of the effort to do more to assist the homeless; another is to donate money to any of the agencies in the county who routinely give assistance to homeless families and individuals; or you can volunteer your time or volunteer goods.
To respond to that call to action, contact Buchanan at (910) 246-3125 or by e-mail at sbuchanan@sjp.org, or by contacting any of the agencies mentioned.
Contact Pinehurst writer Mary Elle Hunter at mhunter104@yahoo.com.
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Comments
mackattack 2 years, 6 months ago
A lot of homeless people seek shelter in the old KMart building. I hope that with new development plans in action to demolish it, our county can do something to help these people before they loose what little shelter they have.
alaska4u 2 years, 6 months ago
I am glad to see that someone puts out there the places a person can go if they are homeless. I know in 1999 I Moved back to NC from Alaska at my step families request they were jealous of my Dad and his family is the reason the wanted me back here. Once I got here I was told once I get my 1st pay check I had to get my own place. Well I got my first check it was $70.00 I had a 3 and a 4 year old. I called several places. Coalition could put me in a hotel for 3 days and Friend to Friend told me they could help if it was a domestic violence situation. Well It was not domestic violence. So I had no where else to turn or did not know of any where else so me and my 2 kids slept in my car for nearly 2 months until I had enough saved up to get us a place to stay in a trailer park. So I am glad they have places listed to help people. It is not easy being a single mom on the streets with babies and a minimum wage job barely working 30 hours a week.
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
I have thought often about how Moore County needs an homeless shelter & a soup kitchen. We really need one in Carthage. I try to give to people in need. I'm not rich, but i hope to open up a place were people in need can get food & clothes when they need them. I have talked to several older people in Carthage that have offered to help out as well. I also feel that it would be something that the school children could get involved in as well.
kgirl 2 years, 6 months ago
keepitreal, I agree, I am a white woman and I once lived with Family Promise when they were Sandhills Interfaith Hospitality Network. I think the article was just giving general examples, not specifiying that only one race could be homeless or single parents. When I stayed with SIHN, I had 3 children and was working and in school. I left a domestic violence situation and lived with family for a short period of time, 13 people in a small 3 bedroom house. When the stress of that situation became too much, I stayed in the churches and day center with SIHN. There were other families there with us, black and white, coming into the program from different situations and backgrounds. The program helped me find an apartment eventually. I have raised my kids on my own for most of their lives, my oldest is now almost 17 years old, it is tough, and I would be glad to see a soup kitchen and homeless shelter in this county.
carolinacountrygirl 2 years, 6 months ago
Evidently, you need to get the word out about your organization better. Until this write up in the pilot i had not heard of you. A few more words on what "volunteer goods" is would be helpful. Stories about children and single moms and elderly in need of help are published occasionally, but where are the stories of single dads and teenagers kicked out of their homes?
hollywood 2 years, 6 months ago
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tigmaster1961 2 years, 6 months ago
My opinion why is it that the the single mother described here is just single with an infant and the elderly man is just elderly. BUT the African American woman is described in this way were the other 2 "African American, Caucasian, Hispanic what were they or should it matter I DON'T THINK SO. They are American in most cases who should not be going threw this why should the color of there skin be mentioned why I ask and am I wrong for asking.
Until l we can get passed this things will never change. Me and my wife came here to Moore County 4 years ago from Miami Fl and that was one of the first things we noticed here a lot of wealth and services for those who have but not for the have not. We looked and could not find a single shelter for the homeless yes we found the temporary home for mothers which my wife donated just about all her shoes and clothes to. But not a single shelter yes we found homeless living at the Kmart building, behind Pet Smart in the woods. But when we asked about these people no one new they were even there. It's a shame that we cannot get passed color even in this paper. Color does not matter and it shouldn't first and for most when describing a person situation. Now please tell me why is'nt there an uproar about this here but talk about the Jail and people go crazy. Which one would had been first in Jesus heart would it had been the color of a persons skin or his or hers situation in life which one please tell me.
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
I'm still looking into a place that we can rent to start serving food. At this time i just buy extra things that i can buy & i clip coupons to buy extras. II also go through my clothes, my kids clothes & toys to help people out. I also get clothes & things from my family to help.
Flabbergasted 2 years, 6 months ago
Well stated Bassman. I couldnt agree with you more!
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
I came from a big family but my mom was a single mother. At one point or so we were homeless. My mom will always be my hero, because of everything she did for me, my brothers & sisters. She always taught me to help people out. So i'm currently looking for a space where meals or food, clothing & toiletries can be given to people in need. I really think that Moore county needs to look into putting a shelter in Carthage. I run across people everyday that don't have a place to stay or food to eat. Sometimes i get donations from friends or family. The holidays are coming up & supplies are going to run low.
jcinaberdeen 2 years, 6 months ago
Where is the women's shelter? We had planned on having a yard sale, but would much rather the children's furniture, clothes, toys, etc. (all GOOD stuff, some brand new) to go to this cause instead. Do they accept donations of goods or prefer monetary donations instead?
kgirl 2 years, 6 months ago
The "women's" shelter in Carthage is called Friend to Friend, it can be for battered women or men though. I would call to see if they take goods like clothing, furniture, toiletries, etc. Sometimes they don't have room to store large items. They always accept monetary donations. There are several fundraisers each year around the county that benefit Friend to Friend.
kgirl 2 years, 6 months ago
The "women's" shelter in Carthage is called Friend to Friend, but I wonder... I know they house battered women sometimes, is it also for men in the same situation? Men get abused also. You may need to call to see if they are currently accepting household goods like clothing, furniture, toiletries, etc. Sometimes they don't have room to store large items. They always accept monetary donations. There are several fundraisers each year around the county that benefit Friend to Friend.
eflat7 2 years, 6 months ago
Maybe opening a shelter where the homeless are the employees would work. Their pay could be food and shelter. No, I don't have the specifics worked out, and i'm sure it's not simple, but it could work.
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
There are alot of people that would help out in a shelter. We are just trying to find a location in the area. Right now i am working out of my home, but maybe one day soon i can find a building.
Arestorer 2 years, 6 months ago
How about some help from our Board of Commisioners, Oh wait ,they nixed that at their last meeting. Arent all of you that voted for Melton glad he cares so much for the people of Moore Co.??? This is a shame!
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
My personal opinion is that after people get in office, they all change. The only people they want to help are the rich & the people that don't even want to try to help themself (themselves).
GoldenDreams 2 years, 6 months ago
str8one, I think you're on to something good. I would love to help you with people who are homeless, and I think getting your own place would be so much better. Please don't get me wrong. I appreciate all you're doing now for the cause. But your own setting will help you be more focused and the word will travel quickly about your location. Great idea! The need is huge in Moore County.
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
Most of the building in downtown Carthage that i have looked into is wanting a lease. Why can't some of these people have a heart? The holidays are coming up & there are so many families that need help with clothing, food & toys for kids.
harrist33 2 years, 6 months ago
I am so glad to have stumbled on this article. I have such a desire to feed the homeless. I mailed letters out to over 20 churches this summer asking them how could I get started feeding the homeless. I only recieved one response, and that made me discouraged. I have been wanting to feed people for over 3 years now. I try and stop thinking about but something down in my soul just won't let me. I often cook now for my co-workers, family, and friends just to see people fellowshipping. I get joy out of seeing people eat, and enjoying it. I don't have a lot of money, and that's another thing that discourages me. I have strong faith, and believe if it's the Lord's will it will happen. In the meantime, I'm so glad to hear that others are helping those in need.
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
i help people with clothes, food, toys, toiletries, cleaning supplies & school supplies. I help all that i can out of my own pocket, and often have to get help from friends & family..
str8one 2 years, 6 months ago
Chuck that is exactly what i do. I enjoy helping people.