What can be done about homelessness in Knox County?
There is no longer a question about whether Knox County is “home” to homeless people.
Answer our streets questions here.
There is no longer a question about whether Knox County is “home” to homeless people.
35 Responses to “What can be done about homelessness in Knox County?”
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November 10th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
How sad that Robert’s comment is the only one I find in response to this issue. I agree that we can’t give people who find themselves homeless a meal or a few bucks and expect that to solve the problem, but the rest of what he said was just demeaning. As if living on the street and needing handouts to survive isn’t enough of an indignity - he makes a joke of the desperation of their situation. The fact is that so many people live day in and day on that thin line between barely scrapping by and homelessness. And what is more, there is no one really immune to losing all worldly possessions any given day. Many of us don’t realize how vulnerable we are. So many are living paycheck to paycheck, juggling bills, with debts in credit cards, mortgages, student loans, etc. so great that if they were all to be due this moment there would be nothing they own worth enough to pay them off. All it takes is one catastrophe, one life-altering event, and it all can be gone. I know this because I had the misfortune of experiencing such a turn of events. I was living a middle class life, going through college and working two, sometimes three, jobs and then I lost everything I thought I could depend on. My spouse, my home, my jobs, all my possessions – gone in a blink. I found myself just having graduated from college with an infant son to raise alone and absolutely nothing to my name but a beat up Saturn with almost 150,000 miles on it. There was nothing I could have done to foresee and prevent this, and unless you are so fortunate as to have a good support system that can help you weather such a downturn, you end up on the street. The world and the system are such that in that situation, without the natural supports of family and friends, I was destined to fail. Just consider all the expenses related to owning a car: tags, plates, insurance, license, gasoline, tires, maintenance, etc. Without a car you can’t even get to job interviews much less a job, without a job you can’t get the money to pay for a car – it’s a vicious circle. So much is like this when you are on the edge. My son, he was too young for subsidized daycare to take in (as if I even could get him in with such waiting lists) and any other daycare would cost me hundreds of dollars - more than I could possibly afford at minimum wage. Without some family or friend that I trust willing to care for him for free so I could try to earn enough to pay for food, gas, an apartment and all the bills therein - how were we to stay off the street?. If you think about it you can see how easy it is to fall below that line and how hard it can be to get back up.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Nothing we do not have an issue with the homeless in Knox county. There are plenty of government programs to feed and shelter everyone.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Drew, I’m happy that you were lucky enough to pull through. Its the worse thing a person can go through, especially when you once had it all.
Ed, There is no government programs in Knox County. So do we send our people to another county, that has this. No,we need to care of our own!
November 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I’m sure like many towns across america Mt.Vernon has an unused surplus of vacant or partially used buildings. Take these buildings ask local orgaizations churches, clubs, VFW’s, ect. that have volunteers to man shelters at various times. Businesses are almost always willing to donate items so that they may get their names out ot the public. I know at my chucrch on Harcourt Rd. is trying to establish as homeless program as we have a Hot Meals program wednesday already. I’m sure they’re not the only organization planning to do so. Everybody will get together soon and this will be adressed by the private individuals of the community, because We The People, Can!! and usually do act faster than any Goverment office… POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
i think it sad that so many people are refusing to admit that there is a homeless problem here in the county.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Instead of relying on the government, why can’t people find a job? Even minimum wage is better than zero!! We need to establish services that find people with minimal education, criminal backgrounds, etc. jobs. Give people a chance to support themselves.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:05 am
The old middle school would be great place to section off rooms & fix it up for the homeless. Many people who aren’t compassionate always sais”get a job, get a job”. That’s true, but… Many homeless are homeless because of mental illness.Depression alone costs some”regular people” to lose jobs because of its toll on them. If the homeless could afford the medication for their illness in the first place, maybe they’d be able to better themselves, get a job, and all thats needed to get started.It’s easy to sit back and act like we know it all, when we’re not the ones living on the street, suffering from mental illness, hearing voices,deep depression, ect.
Thanks!
November 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
As I read through the replys one phrase is constenly rpeated. “Why can’t the find a job” Well let me tell you from experence that that is not as easy as you all would like it to be. If you have a job that allows you to keep a roof over your kids head, food in their bellies, and clothes on their back in this economy you’d better get down on your knees and thank god above for that luxery! I was born and raised in Knox county and always loved it there. Then a year ago I lost my job, 5 months later my husband lost his. Before that we werent rich by any means but the rent was paid (barly) the lights were on (again barly) and the we had heat. My family helped to cloth my son and we got food stamps to feed ourselves. Then the jobs were gone with no hope of a new one insight. Then the car was gone. They tend to take them back if you cant pay for them. The the eviction notice came. We were Lucky we had family willing to take us in. The sad part is that the family is in Michigan. So we packed up and I left the only thing I’d ever known and moved 444 miles away to Northern Michigan. But here we both have jobs and all is getting better.
Just keep in mind when ou say that the solutin is to “find a job” you can look till the cows come home but if there aren’t jobs out there to find there is nothing you can do about it. It can all turn on a dime. You can go from barly making it (but still making it) to nothing in a matter of days. It happened to my family and it can just as easily happend to yours. So before you go berating the homeless fon not “finding a job” Stop and think about what would happen if you lost your job. Could you servive on what you have saved till you could find another job. And what if there wasn’t another job to find. Could you make it with out ending up in the same situation.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Something needs to be done with old middle school so why not make it available for the homeless.
Here we have a big building in the community that is becoming an eye sore so put it to use.
Have the community come together and fix it up.!!!
November 12th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I agree with Shelly. I said years ago that they should turn it into a homeless shelter instead of just letting it set there going to waste!
November 12th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I agree with the thoughts about turning the old middle school into a shelter. The sad truth is there is little money for that here. I feel that currently the very best way to help the homeless is to raise awareness on the recovery of their mental health and establish a support system to help them get back on their feet. That is why the government has housing programs, grants and supplemental resources. It is there to help and not to hinder. One of the most important issues that gets looked past is the education levels of the individual. If society in whole would spend more time educating their children, offering guidance/support to those in need, caring for one another and raising awareness on these issues…you and I would not be sitting here writting out our beliefs and opinions. I think in today’s society we live in a world with such high demands we are all far too busy to see the repercussions of mental illness and lack of education/awareness. I have to agree with Drew for some of his statements made as well. Sometimes one trip in life can cause you to fall into a vicious cycle. At times it becomes very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Having shelter is one of the most important matters related to our own sense of well being. Without shelter we have no sense of saftey, no sense of security and little sense of well being. These are very important issues and I am glad that the Mt. Vernon News is taking the time to recognize them. Let’s hope that our community will do the same.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Thank you Robyn, Well spoken! Your is a typical life story of how a person can become homeless when things aren’t your fault. It’s just a fact of life!
Thanks again!!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I wonder how the people living near the old school building feel about it being turned into a homeless shelter? Especially those with children. Let’s face facts. Many homeless are not the cream of society. Not being mean, just truthful. I would rather be correct than politically correct when it comes to the safety of children.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
WHY DOESN’T THE CITY ALREADY OWN THIS BUILDING!!! I think using the old school on Mullberry St. for a homless shelter would be a great idea. We as a community can not keep turning our heads to a major problem that we have had for years in Knox County. It is amazing to me how long it has takin to get the story into the public eye. I myself have been seeing the problem for at least the last 10 years, people sleeping at Foundation Park, along the river and under everybridge in town. So PLEASE!!! Lets come together as a community and find a solution for the problem at hand. I have met some of these people. they are smart people who have had some ruff patches in there life. But they are not scum on your shoe kids or no kids, one lady husband was killed in an accident and the bank took her house. She had no family in the country and nowhere to go. So she now resided along the river. No agency will HELP her, and finding a job that pays enough to afford a home is nearly impossible to find in this town.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Were is the old school building at? For me I don’t think I would feel very comfortable with the idea but at the same time we all need a little help once in a while. So I guess for me as long as they don’t bother me and keep the area picked up up then I don’t mind.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Mr. Marlin, Maybe someday you will end up homeless too, and then will you say that the homeless are not cream of the crop.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Homeless people can be anyone. You or me, your children, your grandpa, your brother or sister. Do not Judge lest you be judged. Can you throw the first stone, Mr. Perfect?
November 13th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
heres an idea how about the habitat for humanity i bet given the chance these people would help do what needs done that they are capable of doing if it meant in the end they would have a place to stay… and yes the old school would be a good place even though i hear it needs a lot of work and the guy who owns it has not done anything with it at all and barely keeps it clean… I believe you should not talk down about people who are homeless because you could be there in no time yourself and you most likly don’t know what has happened to these people that put them where they are now… Yes every one deserves a chance to get back on their feet….
November 14th, 2008 at 10:29 am
The problem with the old middle school, is that I understand it’s falling in on its self. It was a victim to a fire and it’s no where near structurally sound to house a dog shelter.
I’m failing to see how this has been a problem for so long and nothing is in place?
A failure to plan is a plan for failure.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I agree that the middle school and/or other locations in the community could be made into shelter areas that help individuals get what they need to be successful. I think just providing a shelter would not be enough - partnerships need to be formed to provide the means for success. As I said above, sometimes you can be educated, committed to doing what needs to be done, and seem to have very little challenges to do so comparatively, but in truth there are built in barriers when you are trying to pull yourself out of poverty. I am optimistic about our community’s ability to find a solution but we need to not just provide shelter but help people overcome barriers to success.
Realistically minimum wage is not the level of income needed to survive in our community - it is far below what is needed with the economy and inflation being what it is – especially if you have children to support as well. The economy is such that even two adults trying to support a family fortunate enough to find a job that pays minimum wage will still find it hard pressed to provide what is necessary for their family. In our rural community issues like transportation can kill what little hope you have to get even minimum wage job. There are resources but you need to know about them, have the means to get to them, and many times you must have an address at which to receive them. Almost none of these resources are set up for immediate support - there are long application processes that require the ability to write, read, follow directions and often require documentation and several trips to the location where you apply. Some services reject you out-of-hand to try to “weed out” people, others just don’t have the funds or resources to provide for all that need them and some have enormous waiting lists (I’ve heard over two years for metro and then you still have to find someone willing to accept it). There have been many layoffs and job competition is tough. There are a thousand reasons you can be turned down for a job including the fact that you don’t have the means to buy nice clothes or achieve appropriate cleanliness for an interview, you don’t have the means to get to the interview or must rely on unreliable transportation, you haven’t been “taught” how to interview well, or you have too little or yes even “too much” education are just a few.
Part of creating a solution is to know the extent of the problem; the other part is having the leadership to address it. Almost all projects just need a person who is passionate and invested in its success and who has the charisma and/or connections to make it happen. A “leader” not willing to take no for answer, that inspires the confidence and commitment of others, and who is willing to take the time to go looking for grants, resources and donations to get it going and keep it going. I think that the community is ready to address this and I hope some form of leadership steps forward to make a solution happen. With the foreclosure crisis, the credit crisis and the economic hardship we now are faced with, this is going to be growing problem. One that we will need to invest in solutions to keep our community strong.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Their is no short term solution to a homeless problem. Most of the arguements that i have read are good, but do not serve the long term interest of anyone. While the programs that are in knox county are good, they do not help homeless get back onto their feet and get them off the street. We need a shleter in the area that can help educate the homeless and get them jobs that will help the succeed.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I have read some of what the readers have been saying. I would think that some of the monies that is raised yearly (United Way) should be allocated for such a cause, helping the homeless of Knox county! There are other ways we as Knox Countains can help. Iany of you have ever attended a revival we would reach deep down in our pockets as they passed the offering plate and gave as our hearts were convicted to do so by the almighty. Of course many of you don’t believe the same as I do and I respect that. It always seems that money is the ultimate issue here! LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE! We as a COMMUNITY should have a fund raiser to raise the necessary funds that are necessary to get these people off the street! There are many factory’s just outside of town and I am sure they may be willing to help with monies if there are some strings attached,such as tax abatements. Now back to the people at hand, the homeless. These days jobs are hard to come by and unless you have a college degree you have to settle for minimum wage and that is not much when you you have to pay a deposit plus first months rent and also to get your utilities turned on. When trying to get assistance from DHS you virtually have to be destitute to get any help from them. The ones with mental illness have to have documentation from their physician and have applied for SSI or SSDI. The system is all messed up. I for one am willing to donate some of my time to talk with the homeless, am willing to help to fill out necessary papers to apply for assistance in any form.
November 14th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
There are many vacant buildings in Mount Vernon. Why doesn’t our mayor and his council apply for a grant to purchase one of these, and turn it into a home for these people. We have funds to build a multi-million dollar swimming pool. We can buy buildings and tear them down to reroute state route 13, but we can’t find the funds to purchase a building to house the homeless.
November 14th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
While theres truth in most of the comments, why do we have so many empty houses and business’ here in Mt.Vernon?
Ahhhhhh, maybe because ends can’t be met on minimum wage, or the homes would be filled.
Business’ go elsewhere,where there’s higher demand.
There is no right or wrong answers, but we do need to as a standing community, need to get these people off the streets, rather it be for a cold winters night or a few months to help them get on their feet.
Come on people, lets open our hearts to at least getting a shelter open and then look at long term.
Call your local politicians, state represenatives, bug them until they help. Thats why we have the right to vote!
By you not voicing your opinions, your rights and helping in any way you can, is why our constitution is falling apart.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I grew up in Knox County, in fact, I went to High School with one of the homeless featured in these articles. It breaks my heart to read these stories of misfortune. I wholeheartedly agree that given the state of the economy, any one person could find themselves without a job, a home, etc. I only hope that the citizens of Knox County can pull together and make this shelter a reality. No one wants to be homeless; I believe it happens out of circumstance. Thank you Mount Vernon News for covering this very important story. It could happen to any of us.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Well I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that these homeless people should stop waiting for the rest of us to help them out and instead get their stuff together and get a freaking job. Oh, I know they will say “I’m homeless because I’m crazy or I have some horrible disability” but the fact remains there are plenty of jobs for crazy and disabled people. We need to stop treating these people with kid gloves. The rest of us pay taxes for social services these homeless people choose to ignore.
November 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I was raised with a simple rule. Work or go hungry. It’s all in your Choices.
I’ve never been starved. Never been out of work out for more than a couple months. Raised a couple families and lived as if I may be homeless tonight.
It’s all in how you want to live your life. It takes a lot of planning and sometimes compromising your ideals.
Oh yes, Once in a while you have to take a job that isn’t your cup o tea and not so fancy of a house. Just thought I’d share. I’ve met a lot of homeless. Still looking for the one that it wasn’t a choice.
November 15th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
there is job,s out there if you want to work .
November 15th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’d would like to know where these jobs are in mt. vernon. Are we talking minumum wage jobs like mcdonald’s, burger king, hardees? I know for a fact how hard it is to get into one of the local factories around here and if you do, you will more than likely get laid off before the 90 days trial basis.
November 15th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I was saddened when I read the article regarding the homeless here in Mount Vernon..especially when a couple of days before that I heard Ted Turner tell that he gave millions of dollars to the the UN. If the celebrities want to help people and give away their money, why won’t they give to Americans? People have always taken care of each other, why can’t we still do that?
November 16th, 2008 at 10:01 am
There are 2 kinds of homeless: by choice or without options.
My experience (as a social worker) is that the VAST majority are by choice, or they perceive their situation as hopeless. Many do not want to move, take a lower paying job, or work at a job they do not like. They do not want to ’start over’ when there is someone out there to give them money. Think of how americans got through the economic downturns in the past 100 years. They worked hard and made responsible decisions.
For instance, when jobs disappeared in their area, they moved. A good example today? Jobs abound in northern Virginia. Someone who drives a truck or can paint a room can have a job tomorrow at about $50K per to start. I’ve done it myself so I know of what I speak. I also worked two jobs and raised kids, put them to college (college loans), maintained a tight family and just did what I had to do. Come on America!
There are also many instances of true hardship without much in the way of choices. These people need help and most times get it. Some are too ‘proud’ and don’t seek it out.
The reality is that the USA has become a country of opportunity through government assistance which is a prescription for poverty. All of our anti-poverty programs have succeeded in promoting poverty as a lifestyle and they have trapped many millions and prevented them from any real opportunity to excel. I have worked for a number of these programs and believe me, if you saw what I saw you would be horrified to know what we have done to these poor program participants.
Maybe the best example of what THE INDIVIDUAL can do to overcome despair, hunger, and cold is to talk to someone who lived through the depression. That period was FAR MORE SEVERE than we will ever know. And the bottom line is most made it through and came away in far better condition than they ever imagined. The number who did not make it and either died or remained in severe poverty is far less than the number we have sentenced to poverty through our ridiculous social programs.
Come on America, learn from your past. Talk to your grandparents!
November 16th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
ccrider.. The last time I checked the money paid by McDonald’s and Burger King was worth as much as that paid by the factories, and you won’t be laid off in 90 days.
I dropped out of high school at age 17. I later finished and now have a college degree. To do that I worked two parttime jobs during the school year and one fulltime and two parttime jobs during the summer. At the same time my wife was a stay at home mom with two small children. All of these jobs were in Knox County. So, I have a hard time buying hard luck stories. You make your own luck. It’s called hard work.
You may have to work for low wages while preparing yourself for something better.
November 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
*** Once again, the news mafia “edited” my first post, so I cleaned it up and will try again.
Well…here we go again with small town mentality. Mt. Vernon is so backwoods to what is really going on in the world. It is also very politically biased. When I read the article on the poverty “simulation”…”I was enraged!” How dare them to hold such a thing just to “see what it would be like!” If they really “cared”, then get off your velvet sofa, get out there, and find out!
Anyone who thinks homelessness is not conceivably possible in his or her future is an idiot. Considering world economics, political issues, (like unqualified people in the government) and the inability of people to obtain an education for entry-level career positions in the community, we should be lucky this problem is not on a much grander scale.
So you open up a shelter…that is just the band-aid. Get them in there, help them with personal grooming, get them some suitable clothing if needed, (thrift or otherwise)…and THEN…SIT THEM DOWN AND SHOW THEM HOW TO INTERVIEW! If they cannot present themselves in a reputable fashion, it is going to be much harder.
Next, you keep them there until they have banked up some funds. In addition, when they are not working, they are working with a Counselor to set up specific goals for their immediate future.
Once they obtain a place of residence, be it a room, efficiency apt, or otherwise, you follow up, keep them on a set course and eventually move them into quality education in a field that will offer some permanent solutions to their problems. But do not bail out on them at that point.
See…you people think that sticking these people in a shelter is going to solve the problem. We need a full cycle approach. Remember when you got married. The preacher said “this ring is an endless symbol of your love. It has no beginning and no end.” This is the way we need to think about this issue…not the cheapest quickest way out that is such a Mt. Vernon way of doing things!
God Bless the homeless and I pray for their safety and future…..IN A BETTER TOWN!
November 16th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Very well stated Backwoods Mentality. Maybe you should run for office around there.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:21 am
No, I am a person that has come to understand the issues that face many Americans today. There are issues that we have no control over that can destroy all of our lives. I am personally going through some very difficult times myself, but I can always find it in my heart to listen to others, and know there are people in WORSE condition.
I believe that my aforementioned plan is very viable in this community, IF you can get the COC to look into it. They will approve goofy stuff like cleaning bricks from the brick roads that need to be re-surfaced, but never think twice about an issue as strong as this one.
I only hope to add light to a situation that I feel is going to get worse before it gets better.
Again, God Bless the homeless and their families. Please keep them safe.
Thank you!
( Backwoods Mentality 2012! ) Ha Ha