Photo by Jessica N. Rex Melanie Swab, housing director at the EOC’s Faith Inn, is pictured with a current low stock of winter coats.

Melanie Swab is quick to admit there is a general lack of awareness of Warren County’s homeless population.

There’s a good reason for that, as the Times Observer reported earlier this year – Warren’s homeless don’t look like other cities’ homeless, even nearby cities like Jamestown, N.Y.

“There is a lack of awareness because we don’t look like the big cities; even like Jamestown; we don’t have encampments,” Swab, housing director at the EOC’s Faith Inn, told the Times Observer this week. “Our street homeless population is actually the minority of the overall homeless population here in Warren County. The barriers that exist in this county makes for category 2 homelessness. This means that the majority are at risk; typically of eviction, lack of food, unpaid utility bills or vehicle fixes which often means that they cannot pay rent. The homeless problem in Warren is overlooked because this and several other agencies have programs to help avoid street homelessness. We’ve gotten pretty good at this at the Faith Inn.”

Category 1 homelessness is an issue, Swab said, and EOC officials have a good working relationship with others who help with those on the street by making referrals to them. There are programs that help. If there are multiple barriers that a person is struggling with, a team meeting is held to help sort through those barriers to get the homeless connected to a housing specialist for help with case management services. The team helps apply for mainstream benefits, transportation, getting to doctor appointments, help with prescriptions and co-pays that they may need help with.

‘ONE MONTH AWAY’

There are also times of crisis that they assist people with, such as after a structure fire or after a domestic violence situation, which could mean leaving an individual or family without the means necessary to survive.

The majority of Faith Inn’s work deals with those who are termed Category 2 homeless, or people who are at risk of becoming imminently homeless within the next 14 days. The majority of the population are within one bad month of becoming homeless. One bad month of losing their vehicle, losing their home, needing to be on mainstream benefits like medicaid, or food stamps or cash assistance.

A quick eviction could occur as a result from any injury that would take income away. Swab encourages people to come check in everyday and they will work at connecting people to other housing options that could be available.

“No one is one month away from hitting the lottery or becoming a millionaire,” Swab said. “We see more of those that are at risk of being imminently homeless.”

Faith Inn, Swab said, is constantly looking to expand income-based housing, offering help to those who have mental health concerns, are on a fixed income, or those that maybe cannot find available housing options in the area for various reasons. The housing department at the Faith Inn has working relationships with other housing options, even landlords, and works with agencies and service providers to try to resolve housing issues to keep people from becoming homeless. That includes salvaging current housing situations for people.

The Faith Inn is the transition place and staff work alongside the clients to help find their own permanent housing.

The importance of the relationships is key to collaborating well with other agencies that network and share information, which enables more success as a county, and as a whole. The biggest challenge is when individuals and families/households are so close to being street homeless. Swab has gone with community members to the magistrate, to help them navigate, and sometimes intervene and mediate with a landlord in order to stop an eviction. She aims to salvage a housing problem before someone becomes homeless.

“This area suffers from a low housing stock which means there are not a lot of options in the area,” Swab said.

The homeless shelters are located in the basement of Faith Inn, while the apartments above the office house those who are connected to the re-entry program with the county jail. Some are incarcerated because they do not have an approved housing plan, but they are eligible for release. Many are on a work release but do not have a housing plan. Numerous housing programs are offered through the EOC housing department (at the Faith Inn) including homeless, at-risk, and income-based housing. Every situation is different and truly anyone can be affected. The majority of the families served by the Faith Inn have income. However the biggest challenge is that there is a big gap between income and the ability to have enough money to be able to make ends meet with paying for childcare – that is, if there are places available to take children. The majority of the population are found in this place, unfortunately.

DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES

Single parents have a hard time working full time hours and there are many county wide barriers gaps that need to be closed. Median household income is $59,013 – roughly 80% of the state’s median household income of $76,081 and three quarters the national household income of $78,538.

Census data shows 11.4% of people live under the poverty line as of 2023, 16% of children and 9% of senior citizens. The county’s poverty rate is lower than the national rate of 12.4% and slightly lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%.

The people housed in the Faith Inn need to be fed. There are several local food pantries, and the churches, Salvation Army and the YMCA all help out. Many places also have hot meals offered. The SNAP benefit stoppage hit many hard, and Swab points out that the Faith Inn’s donation room is stocked up for anyone in need, be it household items, clothing, or shoes.

Swab said it would be helpful if the area as a whole would try to be more understanding of the homeless – whether they fall into Category 1 or Category 2 – because one thing can cause a landslide of life-changing events to happen.

Simulations are put on for the public to attend and can be an eye-opening experience to go through the “Day in the life of..” scenario. A list of tasks that have to be completed are given for the simulation, or it’s back to jail if those tasks are not completed. Swab said that everyone in the simulation struggled but those who completed the checklist; including Swab herself, had to admit that she had to steal and cheat. Anyone can attend a simulation and the next simulation that is being planned is one on racial disparities.

WAYS TO HELP

“Reach out, volunteer, donate, be part of helping solve this problem. “Be part of the solution to the issues we are facing in the county.” Swab said, “Some go beyond homelessness, we need housing and industry to combat the low population especially the younger population. We’ve got to collaborate. Winter is coming so if you know anyone that is street homeless and needs help, even if they are sheltered but have issues with utilities; if the agency doesn’t have a quick fix, it is still something they can get involved in and can offer a referral in order to resolve the issue.” Faith Inn also offers a computer lab with internet and a printer is available in the building in order to help with job search and resume building. If anyone is in need, not just homeless but those on a fixed income or any low income, all are welcome to see how the agency can help.

Those who owe community service hours can also volunteer at the Faith Inn, which will log and report volunteer hours. The Faith Inn also works with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to help those with development disabilities. Pathstone is another program the Faith Inn offers for people ages 55 and over who need to supplement their wages by working hours at the Faith Inn.

“We’re trucking along, federal shutdown or not, we’re going to keep going. Even if we run out of funds or have limited funds, because it is not always about the money, sometimes it’s just connecting people to the right services needed,” Swab said. “I absolutely love what I do and my team is absolutely phenomenal. We’re always on the same page.”