How to help the homeless
Cold weather poses problem for
RASS
By EMILY HULEN
Rockbridge Area Social Services may be
unprepared to handle the effects of recent cold weather on the local
homeless population.
One problem is that no one knows how many homeless people are in the
county, who they are, or where to find them. Definitions vary, but local
social service workers are most worried about those who have no friends
or relatives to take them in during a cold spell.
It is hard to get Rockbridge area agencies for the poor to speak with
authority on local homelessness. The local food pantry is concerned with
feeding the poor, and the free medical clinic doesn’t see many homeless.
Whatever the number of homeless in Lexington, it is small compared to
the number found in urban areas. Still, with current resources, the
system may not be able to do enough, says Meredith Downey, director of
Rockbridge Area Social Services.
There is no homeless shelter in Rockbridge County. The nearest missions
are in Roanoke and Staunton.
Downey says that those in the area without adequate housing are usually
men without families who do not fit the qualifications for local
programs such as Project Horizon, an organization that shelters victims
of domestic, dating, and sexual violence.
Clinton Spencer, the resident manager of the Valley Mission in Staunton,
says there is no exact way of tracking how many people they see from the
Rockbridge area. He recalls seeing roughly 10 to 12 homeless people a
year who say they are from Lexington. However, volunteers keep records
of only the last permanent address, which may or may not be recent or
even accurate.
Spencer said that, because income tax refunds often help the homeless
pay for temporary housing during the winter months, many have a place to
stay this time of year. Therefore, the warmer seasons are usually their
busiest time, he said.
While the same goes for the family shelter at the City Rescue Mission in
Roanoke, Lee Clark, director of development and administration for the
Roanoke shelter, has noticed a spike in single adult visitors when the
weather gets cold. He thinks the difference may be due to landlords who
feel guilty about evicting families with children during the winter.
The City Rescue Mission houses up to 300 people a night. Clark said they
are prepared for whatever crowds come their way this season.
Downey still thinks the Rockbridge area needs a shelter. She faces
potential emergencies now that could force several families to become
homeless at the same time. Because of confidentiality agreements, she is
unable to detail those situations.
“We have people that simply cannot afford to run a place,” she said,
citing heating and fueling costs as part of the problem.
Her agency has loaned out several radiators and helps to provide fuel
for many.
The Red Cross is able to provide up to two nights in a hotel room.
Downey said that this helps, but insisted that more thorough provisions
are needed in the long run.
Three people regularly seek Downey’s help.
“I know of one that resides under a bridge, I know of one that has a
tent in a yard,” she said, “and the other one… I don’t know where he
resides.”
Other than those who come regularly for help, Downey knows of no other
way to track or count the people who need her help. “I’m sure there are
more."
Rockbridge Area Social Services
Red Cross - Blue Ridge Chapter
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd