Local homeless shelters experience ‘weird winter’

LANCASTER – This has been an odd winter for local homeless shelters.

Despite the subzero temperatures, homeless shelters are experiencing an all-time low for this time of year. Typically, when the weather gets to be as cold as it has been, local shelters are at capacity, placing people wherever they have a free space and going above their maximum capacity.

Eddie Rapp, of Lutheran Social Services of Southern Ohio, said he can’t quite figure it out.

“It’s a weird winter,” said Rapp, who has been with the organization for nine years. “It’s odd to us, and we’re trying to figure it out, too.”

In the last three winters, Lutheran Social Services’ emergency shelter, 1681 E. Main St., has hosted a maximum of 42 people at one time when the maximum typically stands at 24 people.

“We had folks sleeping on mats in the hallways — anywhere we could put them.,” Rapp said. “We were at that high for about a month.”

Ed Clum, of the Foundation Shelters, said an average of 18 to 20 people will be housed in his shelter on West Sixth Avenue at all times, with a maximum occupancy of 29. However, Clum said he hasn’t had more than 13 people at one time in about a month.

Clum said it may be because families are more welcoming to allow a homeless family member into their home when it gets this cold. But, he said, that’s just a guess.

Clum said he also realizes some people opt to stay elsewhere because the don’t want to follow his shelter’s rules. He said one couple came in earlier this week but left when they found out they would have to sleep separately; women and men are housed in different quarters.

One of the three local shelters, one that focuses on housing families as a unit, is reporting normal numbers for this time of year.

“The colder temperatures have increased a need for services across the board in all of our programs, and the family shelter is no exception,” said Social Services Director Linda Wilson, of Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action. “At all times, we maintain a waiting list for our family shelter as it is always full. In any one month, there are between five and 15 people on the waiting list for that month.”

Community Action’s Emergency Homeless Shelter, 1743 E. Main St., can host up to four families in each unit complete with a bathroom and kitchen, which they don’t have to share, at one time.

Often, Wilson said, there are families on the shelter’s waiting list for several months before a vacancy opens up.

Wilson said one reason numbers at other shelter are down but Community Action’s are remained consistent is likely because the latter organization caters to families and houses them together.

“When we’re full, we’ll refer them to the other two (homeless shelters), and their main concern is about being separated,” Wilson said.

Wilson also speculated that the reason overall numbers are down across the county is because of rental assistance and other programming.

Rapp agreed it could be a sign that local programs are having an affect on the homeless community.

“There’s more programs available to help,” he said. “But we just got eight calls for beds (Wednesday), so we can go from 20 to 28 instantly. It can really change overnight.”

For more information on housing, financial assistance and other social services, call Information and Referrals of Fairfield County by dialing 211.

sroush@lancastereaglegazette.com

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