MOUNT VERNON — Unlike larger cities, the homeless problem goes almost unseen in Knox County. That makes it very difficult to put a number on the problem.
related
- Resources available for homeless in county
- Beau Ashley, 27, was homeless for six long years in Los Angeles and Detroit. His spiral downward began in 2001 when his lifelong plans to join the ... November 14, 2008
- Homeless shelter is safe haven
- Now in its second year, the shelter is located at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Parish House, and offers a dwelling place for individuals to sleep during the ... February 27, 2010
- Shelter rewarding to homeless, volunteers
- Mount Vernon's homeless shelter, housed at St. Paul's Episcopal Church parish house on East High Street, is beginning its third month of nightly ... February 9, 2009
- Group makes plans to help with homelessness
- There is no longer a question about whether Knox County is "home" to homeless people. Workers at local social service agencies, charitable ... November 10, 2008
- Homeless shelter begins its third week
- Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Columbus was the central Ohio setting for a memorial service on Thursday evening. Across the nation, churches ... December 20, 2008
- Who are the homeless of Knox County?
- Who is homeless in Mount Vernon? Craig Baker, 21, a native of Fremont, and Rebecca Mielcarek, 26, and a native of Mount Vernon, live on the street ... November 11, 2008
- Homeless shelter opens tonight
- The motto of the Winter Sanctuary is "It's a hand up, not a hand out." The sanctuary housed in the parish house of St. Paul's Episcopal ... November 11, 2010
- Money for homeless coming to Knox, Licking
- The Ohio Department of Development has informed officials in Knox and Licking counties they will be receiving nearly $620,000 in federal stimulus ... May 29, 2009
- Homelessness cause is complicated
- To walk in that door, homeless, with nothing ... and nothing happens overnight. It takes months, sometimes, to fill out paperwork, jump through all the hoops. November 12, 2008
- Homelessness a hidden problem
- Leo Jones was homeless a long time, and is about to become homeless again, evicted because he can't pay his rent. Jones grew up in Fredericktown, graduated from ... November 13, 2008
Nonetheless, most of the organizations that deal with the homeless in Knox County feel it is a growing problem. Major Robert Bender of the local Salvation Army said it is his feeling that he is getting more calls for help than he has in the nine years he has been in Mount Vernon.
“The Mount Vernon Police and the sheriff’s office have my private phone number,” he said. “And they call me whenever they have someone who needs a place to stay. I don’t really keep an accurate count of the calls I get but it sure seems like I am getting more and more of them. Maybe one a day or five or six a week. Something like that.”
Bender said The Salvation Army is very active in finding shelter for people who do not have a place to live. They refer people to local shelters and motels.
“We are very lucky to live where we do,” Bender said referring to Knox County. “Here the different agencies talk to each other and try to help each other with these types of problems.”
The causes of homelessness are varied. Bender thinks the two biggest reasons are high rents and the economy.
