Butler homeless shelters seeing more families, females

Butler County homeless shelters are reporting serving more families and females who need assistance days before the start of winter.

There are 250 beds in the four Butler County homeless facilities, and some directors said their shelters are at or near capacity.

“It’s not good,” said Bill Fugate, volunteer director at Serving Homeless Alternate Lodging Of Middletown (SHALOM), a seasonal, church-based shelter.

MORE: Advocates: Homelessness ‘not new problem’ for Middletown

Last year, SHALOM set a record by serving 129 clients in four months. Fugate said in its first 10 days of operation this year, SHALOM has served about 30 people and about half are females, which he called “very unusual.”

The increase, Fugate said, probably is due to domestic situations. Linda Kimble, executive director of Serve City in Hamilton, agreed, adding she’s seeing an increase in substance abuse among females. She said domestic violence and drug abuse are “very related to each other.”

Butler County shelters also are seeing an increase in helping those who live outside the county. Fugate said some homeless staying at SHALOM churches are there because they were “asked to leave” neighboring communities, and Kimble said she receives calls daily from those living in Hamilton County for assistance.

“We can’t handle the volume,” said Kimble, who added her first priority is serving those in Butler County where she receives funding.

Need for homeless services in Butler County is mirrored around the state. Last year, for the first time in years, the rate of homelessness in Ohio increased, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There were 10,249 homeless Ohioans in 2018, up 1.5 percent from the previous year.

The HUD report is based on an estimate of homeless people on a night in January.

A study from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency found children comprise one of the fastest growing homeless populations in Ohio, with minors making up nearly 30 percent of people receiving homeless services in 2017. The OHFA says that’s a 53-percent increase since 2012. The amount of people using homeless service agencies jumped 20 percent from 2012, according to the report.

The other three homeless shelters in Butler County — Hope House Center for Men and Hope House Center for Women and Children in Middletown and Haven House in Hamilton — also are reporting an increase in need for homeless services.

Hope House’s two shelters are at capacity, said Tim Williams, executive director of operations. He said the demand for services follows a recent trend in the region.

At Hope House, he said, residents are encouraged to attend classes and enroll in programs, what he called “the counseling and tools they need.”

Hope House will move its operations from South Main Street to a new facility at 1001 Grove St. by the first quarter of 2020, Williams said.

The new facility will offer 50 beds, 10 more than it has at its current facility. There also will be 30 one-bedroom apartments, administrative and counseling offices, a chapel, recreation room, dining room and health provider rooms for visiting nurses and doctors.

In Hamilton, Bobby Grove, executive director of Haven House, said the shelter has been “slammed” throughout the year, and he only sees the need for services increasing as winter arrives.

Haven House accepts families with children and Grove said 70 percent of the residents are under 18. He said it’s common for single mothers with multiple children to be homeless.

Grove said Haven House has 92 beds, but every bed is rarely used because some rooms have four beds and families may only need two.

“It never slows down for us,” he said. “Homelessness is not weather related. We do this every single day.”

Grove said he sees more single moms in their 20s who may have two young children. She has only so much money, and when that money runs out at the hotel, she and her children land at Haven House.

He remembered one time last year when grandparents and a grandchild showed up. There was no room for them, so Grove emptied his office, placed three beds there and worked out of the kitchen.

“Whatever it takes, that’s the motto,” he said.

Jesse Gregory, 42, said he’s thankful for Haven House. He and his daughter lived with friends and relatives until “we ran out of family,” he said.

“He was in a real bad spot,” Grove said.

So the Gregorys moved into Haven House and two years ago he was hired as weekend supervisor. Grove called Gregory “one of the best employees” he ever hired.

“I’m very grateful,” Gregory said. “They’re like family to me.”

BUTLER COUNTY HOMELESS SHELTERS/PROGRAMS

HAVEN HOUSE

Address: 550 High St., Hamilton

Phone number: 513-863-8866

HOPE HOUSE MISSION

Address: 34 S. Main St., Middletown

Phone number: 513-424-4673

SERVE CITY

Address: 622 East Ave., Hamilton

Phone number: 513-737-8900

SERVING HOMELESS ALTERNATE LODGING OF MIDDLETOWN (SHALOM)

Address: 120 S. Broad St., Middletown

Phone number: 513- 423-7821

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HOST CHURCH SCHEDULE FOR Serving Homeless Alternate Lodging Of Middletown

The homeless are picked up every day at the SHALOM office at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. Broad St. Daily intakes are performed from 4-5 p.m. and the homeless are transported from the church every day at 5 p.m., then are returned to the office at 8 a.m. the next day.

Here is the hosting schedule for the 2019-2020 season at SHALOM:

Dec. 15-21: First United Methodist

Dec. 22-28: Breiel Church of God

Dec. 29-Jan. 4: Christ United Methodist/First Christian

Jan. 5-11: Holy Family Parish

Jan. 12-18: Holy Family Parish

Jan. 19-25: First Baptist

Jan 26-Feb. 1: First Presbyterian/Christian Enterprise Baptist

Feb. 2-8: Crosspointe Church of Christ

Feb. 9-15: Christ United Methodist/First Christian

Feb. 16-22: Stratford Heights Church of God

Feb. 23-29: Quest Church