When we get cold, we turn the heat on. When it’s snowing or raining outside, we snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. And when we’re hungry, we go to our refrigerator and make something to eat.
But unfortunately, there are many people in and around Concord that don’t have that luxury. The issue of homelessness in the capital city is a real thing, and those involved with the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness and the Concord Homeless Resource Center are doing everything they can to try to end it.
With the closing of the two cold weather shelters in the city after last winter, there’s even more pressure now to figure out a fix, even if it just gets everyone through the cold winter months ahead. There have been plenty of conversations in the time since First Congregational and South Congregational churches decided not to continue operations for the winter of 2015-16, but so far there has been no movement on a solution for those without a place to go.
“As it gets darker and colder, the pressure builds,” said Ellen Fries, chairwoman of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness.
During the warmer months, there’s not a real need for a shelter. The homeless population have become quite adept at finding spots to set up camps in the far-reaching corners of the city, where for years it was out-of-sight, out-of-mind.
But since the coalition was officially created in June 2008, the issue has been at the forefront and major steps have been made in the city hierarchy to help deal with this long term dilemma. A steering committee was put together in 2013 and adopted in April 2014.
“It has in fact made a huge difference in attention and profile in the city, so people are taking the issue seriously,” Fries said.
The Day Resource Center (now the Concord Homeless Resource Center) started operations later in 2008 in the basement of South Congregational and in 2011 moved to another space provided by the church on South State Street. Neither was very big, but it was something – and something that was desperately needed.
“There was no one place for people to go to figure out what to do,” Fries said.
It gave people somewhere to grab a cup of coffee, warm up on a cold day or get help from a case worker to connect with a place to stay or services.
“Any chance we can have to connect with someone who’s struggling with homelessness is huge,” said coalition executive director Ellen Groh.
With the word getting out and a growing number of people coming in, the resource center moved to a much larger space located at 238 N. Main St. in May of this year. Although it did come with the addition of a rent bill, which isn’t easy for a nonprofit group that can use any and all money to help the people they serve.
There have been many conversations about what’s going to take place when the weather really gets cold. There have been inquiries about possible places for a small shelter or a warming center for people to merely get out of the freezing temperatures for a short time, but so far nothing has come to fruition.
“No one has been able to take on that task,” Fries said. “And it falls on us cause we’re the coalition.”
So through a grant, the resource center has extended its hours for the winter months. It used to be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but starting last month, the hours are now 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and more staff has been added to accommodate the extra 20 hours a week.
“It was primarily out of the fact the cold weather shelters aren’t going to be opening,” Groh said. “The grant only carries us through the spring, but it’s another place for people to get out of the cold.”
Like we said before, the resource center is kind of a catch all. It’s a place where people can get mail, use a computer to check email, grab a cup of coffee on a cold morning, make a phone call, do their laundry or take a shower.
“Those things are all really important,” Fries said.
But beyond those day to day things that most of us take for granted, the resource center staff provides lots of help. If you don’t have a place to stay, they’ll help you connect with family or friends, or other shelters around the state. They’ll help you apply for assistance with housing or food, acquire identification and create a resume.
“Whatever can be done in that moment,” Fries said.
And the No. 1 priority for anyone who walks through the door is to find housing, preferably on a permanent basis. But if it’s just for a night or two to get out of the cold that’s what will be done as a stop-gap.
“It’s more consistent. Every day we’re seeing close to 35 people per day,” Groh said. “We’re trying to make sure everyone’s going to be safe and not freeze this winter.”
That’s why they have a housing stability specialist on staff and are using the Housing First model. They are currently waiting to hear back about some housing grants that will allow visitors to the resource center to obtain vouchers for rent. The top priorities of the resource center and coalition is to find housing and end homelessness. And everyone involved knew it would be a long-term project and not an overnight fix.
A lot has been done over the last seven years, but more is needed. The resource center has volunteer opportunities available and will gladly take donations, whether it be in the form of food, gift cards for warm clothes and boots or money.
“What we need most is money for rent and money for staff,” Fries said. “And you can indicate when you make a donation what you want it to be used for.”
To learn more, visit concordhomeless.org.
