Since last winter we’ve been engaged with concerned citizens, agencies, bodies of faith, and others about the need for a warming shelter in Wytheville. Now, even as the target date for operating a limited, coldest nights only warming shelter is just three months away, we are under no illusion that a site will be made available. We do want to raise awareness, however, of the increasing need, the decreasing amount of funding available to house those experiencing homelessness, as well as unrecoverable costs to our community—health, police, and social services.
The unintended consequences of not providing basic shelter during the coldest winter nights are expensive, inhumane, and shouldn’t be ignored. At the same time, those consequences are fixable with the collective will of the community. Other neighboring communities have addressed the issue when approached as a shared responsibility between its residents, all units of local government, funders, agencies, and churches.
Between last Dec. 1 and March 31, Open Door Community (HOPE) turned away 124 households otherwise eligible for homeless services. For the entire 12-month calendar year, 345 households were turned away. For those same 12 months, we provided emergency shelter for 61 households consisting of 91 individuals. With available funds last year, we provided 2,513 nights of shelter in local motels, for an average length of stay of 41 nights (41 x $50 per night = $2,000). The length of stay increases due to the lack of affordable housing stock available in which to rehouse clients.
This present fiscal year, our emergency shelter budget is operating with at least $28,000 less federal and state funds. As a result, we will be able to house 22% fewer homeless individuals. Our data does not indicate that the numbers of people experiencing homelessness is declining. In fact, since July 1, we have already seen 119 homeless individuals, which projects to over 800 for the year, a significant increase from last year’s 345. It is also worth pointing out to skeptics that over 50% of this year’s homeless said Wythe was their home; only 4 said they were from outside our service area.
Our budget for homeless programs was around $600,000 prior to the pandemic, and increased to $1.9 million in FY 21 with temporary federal and state increases. It fell to $1.1 million in FY 22, $654,000 in the just completed FY 23, and is reduced to $500,000 for the current fiscal year.
We are turning away folks now because we make the difficult budget plan to have the bulk of funds available during the winter months.
We also know that 30% of our homeless population is uninsured, and that the average per patient national cost of treating uninsured in hospital ERs is at least $4,000.
To broaden our discussion and keep this issue top of mind, we’re hosting a meeting on Tuesday, August 29th, 5 pm, at the Open Door Café. Along with you, our supporters, we are inviting members of the Wytheville Town Council, Wythe County Board of Supervisors, Wythe County Ministerial Association, members of Virginia Organizing, Open Door Community’s board and staff, and others in the community. Please share this pressing need and urgent invitation with others.
Take care, and I look forward to seeing you on the 29th.
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Share This! Help open doors to hope. Sharing with friends is a simple way you can help fight hunger. Tell friends to dine in or carry out.
Hi Everyone,
There are good people in our community who don't have to do big things to have an outsized impact. Small gestures make such a difference. Emilianne Walters, for example, brings me doubled up plastic grocery bags weekly for HOPE Packs K-12 weekend meals. This week she brought them along with a check for Open Door Café. She explained her husband threw her a surprise birthday party. In lieu of gifts, party goers were asked to donate in her name to the Café. Emilianne presented the check form her birthday party to support our zero hunger mission. She even brought me one of her birthday gift bags (pictured below), but took it home with her. Thanks, Emilianne, for having a big heart. Your kindness inspires us, and happy belated birthday from all of us at Open Door.
Thanks also to Fathom Realty for volunteering last week to serve all our guests on Wednesday. They did it all on their own and were very quick learners. We enjoyed their company.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention our constant gardeners cultivating and nurturing fresh produce for use in dishes at Open Door Café. Open Door team member Lexi and our volunteers just planted the third crop of bush beans and lettuce. They give new meaning to the term “farm to table,” only 30 yards away, fresh and quality produce delivered direct to our kitchen!
Enjoy your week, make it safe, happy, and meaningful.
