Putting a face on homelessness

Winter count gives rise to awareness, services

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

When Kenosha County conducted its biannual homeless count Wednesday, it was the first step in raising awareness for all community members west of Interstate 94, according to Sharon Pomaville.

The executive director of Sharing Center in Trevor said the annual Point-In-Time count has been able to find a half-dozen homeless people on average – a number that can affect the entire community, including schools.

According to recent U.S. census figures, about 38,000 people live west of Interstate 94, which covers about 200 square miles.

“There is a lot more homeless, it is just homeless looks different in a rural area,” said Pomaville.

The count only applies to people who live in a tent, camper, are sleeping in their vehicle or sleeping outside.

However, the guidelines noted that families who live with friends or distant relatives do not apply, according to Housing and Urban Development parameters.

“They have specific parameters at what counts as homeless,” Pomaville said. “So if you have a family of three or four that is temporarily staying with grandma, because they don’t have a place to stay, that won’t count.”

About 20 volunteers west of I-94 expect to take part in the Point-In-Time count and have to follow specific guidelines, Pomaville said.

“Our team leaders for the county are very good at training us well,” Pomaville said. “To not be obtrusive and respectful, and still be able to get some of the data we need.”

Volunteers never report anyone, turn anyone in, or take their information, which include names, she said.

Questions include where they are going, how long they have been homeless or how many times they have been homeless.

“There is a very small series of questions that really helps us identify who these people are and what they need,” Pomaville said.

While Pomaville noted that homeless expressing a need for shelter is not a common occurrence, the Sharing Center offers help to those who are seeking it.

Services include phone use, medication and transportation to shelters in the City of Kenosha.

“Some people are OK with where they are sleeping, people are OK sleeping in a tent in the middle of summer,” Pomaville said. “Maybe towards winter they will (seek shelter).”

The Sharing Center also offers a kitchen and food pantry for homeless families, so they can tailor their diet according to their needs.

However, HUD standards are substantially different from parameters established by the Department of Public Instruction.

Pomaville noted the number of homeless children under 18 exceed 100 in western Kenosha County.

“I believe that the numbers of area youth, include those children that no longer have permanent housing, it would be in the hundreds,” she added.

All school districts have to appoint a homeless liaison to serve children.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Those affected live in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds, live in emergency or transitional shelters, abandoned in hospitals, awaiting foster-care placement, living in sub standards housing and similar setting.

Sean Leavy, Homeless Liaison at Westosha Central High School, reports the school serves 21 students who fall under the McKinney-Vento Act.

“We also operate a Principal’s Pantry with nutritious snacks, juice, fruit, and cereal for students to ensure they get enough to eat throughout the day or for them to take home each night,” Leavy said.

Riverview School Principal Andrea Zackery serves as her school’s homeless liaison and reports five students are identified as homeless.

Zackery said there is a procedure in place to aid homeless families, including assessment of student needs, and providing them with school supplies.

“I provide the family with information on the Sharing Center and any other agencies that can with assist with further needs,” she said.

See the Jan. 29 print edition of the Westosha Report for the full story.


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