MITIGATING THE ISSUE … After further exposure and education, the goal of the Williams County Homelessness Committee has shifted to mitigating homelessness by providing low-income housing that those in the area can afford.
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
A new survey has been created by those combating homelessness in Williams County, with plans for it to help “track the full picture of what’s going on.”
The results will be sent with multiple reports, so that a clearer understanding of what resources and scenarios contribute to homelessness can be shared with those working to mitigate the issue.
There is a need for a third-party administrator to help with transferring the data to a county server with more strict confidentiality policies, and Chad Rex from the NWOESC asked some particulars about requirements for administering the survey, and offered to see if they could add it to one of their servers.
Mayor of the City of Bryan, Carrie Schlade, asked if NWOESC had the same confidentiality policies as municipal employees, with Rex sharing that, to his knowledge, they do, but that further conversation can be held with their superintendent to review their confidentiality policies for employees that have access to their server.
It was agreed that a meeting would be held to discuss the feasibility of the potential agreement before the next meeting.
It was shared that one of the biggest goals is to view what resources people are using, with more discussion being held then on the strict confidentiality enforced when it comes to the release of citizen’s personal information, with the goal to keep that information as protected as possible.
Mayor Robert Day of Edgerton shared that “the true needs” of those who are transient should be addressed, with a way to avoid over pouring into someone manipulating the system.
He said that everyone should remember to give those in need resources, not cash, as cash presents a greater temptation to those who are struggling.
It was then shared that the end goal for this committee is still being analyzed, with it being detailed that at first, it was thought that a bigger homeless shelter would help the situation.
After further exposure and education, the goal has shifted to providing low-income housing that those in the area can afford, while making sure to support early education.
Mayor Schlade shared that this new goal would help to prevent an “overload of our system in a compassionate way,” so that community members facing homelessness in this tight economy can have an option that sees them independent and working towards their personal goals.
Discussion was held on how the local churches can’t send anyone away, regardless of how much they’re dependent on the system, and that perhaps a new non-profit centered around helping local residents learn responsible financial habits, overcome mental health and substance abuse, and learn skills applicable to the job market should be founded.
Discussion was then held on the location of the potential project, with it being shared that while Bryan has most of the county’s resources, they have little space to evaluate for a project of this scale.
It was also decided that the community should have time to give their input on where a facility like this should be placed, and it was expounded further that there are needs for both those that wish to better their situations, as well as those that don’t.
It was also shared that there are programs that help people learn how to be independent, but that even once they are, they rarely can find housing they can afford to transition into.
It was then shared that most homelessness stories aren’t those that are abusing the system but are “by and large” families that are doing the best they can, working multiple jobs, unable to find affordable housing.
This has led to many young adults becoming more and more dependent on the system, as they have no where they can afford to live independently.
It was then shared that a majority of the county’s church-based shelters have strict religious requirements, preventing any who do not identify as Christian from receiving help, as they would be required to abide by religious based rules and attend church as a requirement of receiving said help.
Commissioner Terry Rummel said that the “churches can’t do it themselves, and there needs to be a partnership with government that is worked on every day,” and Mayor Schlade added that “our complications aren’t what they were 20 years ago, and I’m not surprised that we’re all in this room.”
Discussion was then held on the use of tiny-houses as transitional housing, but it was shared that while that might work for some cases, most facing homelessness in Williams County are families, who need more space than what a studio-like transitional space could provide.
It was also shared that a major issue contributing to family displacement is the lack of childcare in the area, as parents often lose their jobs for needing to tend to their children.
The new survey should help identify resources that are needed to help prevent displacement, as well as identify which resources those who already face homelessness are in most need of.
The transportation issues faced across the county were detailed before the meeting ended at 2:10 p.m.