December 23, 2011
Shelter for homeless, single women
Residents will spend Christmas at Evansville shelter
Donna and Allison are residents of the newly-opened shelter for homeless, single women at St. Anthony church in Evansville. Kimron Reising, executive director of the United Caring Shelter program, said every resident has her own story about being homeless, and every story is unique. (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes) Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Earlier this fall, 24-year-old Allison was living in a tent along Pigeon Creek in Vanderburgh County. In the early evenings, she and her boyfriend would pitch their tent somewhere in the woods where no one could see them.
“It was hard,” she remembers. “It was hard to stay warm at times. We didn’t have blankets, and we were just trying to stay warm in our clothes.
“He wouldn’t get into a shelter unless I got in one. I was calling shelters every day, and then I had pneumonia, and I was starting to get really cold.
“Then I heard about the women’s shelter, and I was the first one there.”
The shelter that she heard about is for homeless, single women. It opened its doors in mid-November using space in the former convent at St. Anthony Church in Evansville. It’s part of the United Caring Shelters program.
Kimron Resising, executive director, said the need for shelter for homeless, single women became clear to him last winter. At that time, a “White Flag” program provided overnight shelter to anyone when temperatures dropped below 32 degrees for more than three hours.
The shelter was provided at the United Caring Shelter in downtown Evansville. People were welcome to seek shelter from the bitter cold from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. “We had cots and beds on the floor for 68 days. We averaged 33 people a night,” including 19 women.
As staff members talked with the women, they asked them, “Where have you been staying.” They were told, “Abandoned buildings.” “Cars.” “Tents.”
When the women were asked why they didn’t use the existing shelters for women which include the House of Bread and Peace, the YWCA and Ozanam Family Shelter, the reply was, “I couldn’t get in.” Those shelters were full.
Reising began to do a little research, and he found that there were a total of 26 beds available for homeless, single women in Evansville, not enough to help everyone who needed shelter.
“There was a real shortage,” he discovered.
When he called the shelters, and asked, “How many single women are you turning away?” he was told, “Anywhere from 10 to 15 a week up to 30 to 40 a week.”
His response? “Wow! That’s a huge population. That’s a huge need under the radar.”
When he asked each shelter if it could expand, and heard “no” from everyone, he went to his own board of directors. They told him to find funding for expenses and a place.
He was able to obtain a $25,000 matching grant from Welborn Baptist Foundation, and a financial commitment from the Pigeon Township Trustees office. Then he heard that St. Anthony parish was offering free rent to non-profit organizations.
The newly-opened shelter now houses 16 women. “We had six the first week. By the third week, we were full, and we’ve been full ever since.
“We are open from 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., and they come here [United Caring Shelter in downtown Evansville] to the day shelter to get out of the elements, have food and do laundry.”
Every resident has her own story about being homeless, he said, and every story is unique. Sometimes there is a divorce, and sometimes there is mental or physical illness. Some have a history of abuse, and some come from dysfunctional families.
“People become homeless because they don’t have incomes, and they don’t have incomes because they don’t have jobs. Entry level jobs do not provide enough money for rent and food and transportation.”
Ashley is 21 years old, and her friend, Victoria, is 18. They were the second and third residents at the shelter. They were “hopping around” from friend’s house to friend’s house at night, and walking the streets during the day, Victoria said. Ashley adds, “Then we went to the library, and we heard about the shelter.”
Both say living with their families “is not an option.”
Donna is 50, and came to southern Indiana from Mississippi. She says “bad decisions” and “a long-term relationship that went wrong” led to her living at the shelter.
What she discovered there was a support system among the women. “It’s a strong-based community. We accept everybody.”
They each know they will be spending Christmas time in the shelter. Allison said, “It’s a really sad thing. I stayed at ‘White Flag’ last year, and I started getting up . . . .
“I feel I did something wrong. I would love to have my own place where I could celebrate Christmas, but I can’t do that.”
Donna adds, “It’s not the best Christmas we’ve ever seen, and it’s not the worst Christmas we’ve ever seen.”
She believes that “we are here for a reason,” and that God “gives us the support to do it.”
They don’t have money to buy one another gifts, but compliments are free. Each women shared her perspective on the others. Of Donna, they said she was “very loving” and “inspirational.”
Allison was “big-hearted” and “unselfish.”
Ashley was “trying to mature, to become a responsible adult.”
Victoria was described as “intelligent, out-going and vibrant.”
Donna said if people want to donate to the shelter they might consider giving clothing, “because when people come in off the streets, they don’t have clothing.”
She also suggested donations of household items such as pots and pans, sheets and towels “because each one of us is going to set up housekeeping” eventually.
She added, “We need prayers. This place needs to be on someone’s prayer list.”
For additional information, contact Kimron Reising at 812-422-0297.