The Homeless Population in North Virginia, Term Paper Example

Abstract

This paper addresses the homeless population in North Virginia, with specific reference to the plight of the homeless people in Alexandria VA.  A regional assessment is provided relative to the help and facilities available in North Virginia and a specific review of the help and assistance provided by the Carpenters Shelter in Alexandria.  Assistance covers a broad spectrum including that of health care, psychological resources, financial and legal assistance plus advocacy resources.  The internet also provides details of the many volunteer services available in this area.

Introduction

The homeless people of North America are one of the most vulnerable population groups. The problem exists in most Cities but has acute areas that are mostly associated with poverty, low income groups and the lack of affordable housing.  This paper examines the problem of homelessness in North Virginia USA with an emphasis on the town of Alexandria VA.  There are a large number of volunteers that offer time within community aid programs.  One such example being the Carpenter Shelter[1] in Alexandra VA.  This facility has 80 beds and serves the local population of homeless singles and families with children. It is mainly a referral centre from private human services agencies and the Alexandria DHCS.  It deals with walk-ins for overflow only.  All residents are expected to comply with the centre case management plan and service planning.  A range of additional facilities are also available.

There are a number of other facilities in Alexandria including one that deals exclusively with battered women. A comprehensive list of suburban Virginia homeless shelters is maintained on the web (internet) at http://www.novaregion.org/helpingresources.  The Carpenter Shelter also has a website located at: http://www.CarpentersShelter.org.

Homeless Reality In Alexandria VA

There are a large number of people in the area that are classified as Homeless. This meaning that they are without shelter, basic subsistence needs and extremely vulnerable in the cold winter months.  In 2009 statistics shown that there were in excess of 3,000 people homeless in Northern Virginia. Of this figure 300 were in Alexandria alone. (McAllister,T. 2011).  One such volunteer Institute ‘The Carpenters Shelter’ provides a community effort to provide help and assistasnce to the homeless people in this area.  Several local Churches also provide financial and volunteer support to the shelter.  The shelter has on average catered for up to 400 people and 100 children throughout the year and assisted them in building life skills in order to free themselves from the poverty trap and find shelter of their own.  The centre has literally become a lifeline to the homeless people of Alexandria and surrounding area.

The Carpenters Shelter

The Shelter has set out a mission statement… To help end homelessness in the metropolitan Washington DC area by providing services, education and advocacy. (Carpenters Shelter, 2011). The Centre provides the following services through largely a volunteer staff resource base:

Education– The Centre has a philosophy that is based upon the belief that Education provides the route to self-sufficiency.  In this regard since 2005 the Centre has set up Educational Scholarship programs with funds in excess of $114,000 in order to pay for such items as children’s tuition fees, living stipends, computer equipment and books. One awardee was provided funds to train as a medical assistant and now she is training to become a nurse.

The Centre has made educational wards for people aged 18 to 68 and helped in transforming people’s lives so that they can find employment and shelter.

Advocacy–  The shelter is a major advocacy or voice in helping to raise awareness about the plight of the homeless people and provides a call for action in the provision of policies to create affordable housing and services for the homeless. The Board of the shelter serve as advisors to Government, Non Profit firms and a wide range of interested stakeholders. They are instrumental in helping to drive and shape transformational policies in this area. The list of action has included Senators, Congressmen, Virginia Assembly, Virginia Legislative system and many other influential voices.

Health Care Resources–  The Shelter offers ‘David’s Place’ a day care drop in centre for homeless people and caters for their basic subsistence needs. For those with substance abuse problems it can help with a medical referral program.  The shelter does not offer medical care facilities as such but maintains a wide range of contact with health care providers and as such is more of a referral centre. There are links to the Healthcare for the Homeless that provides a network of clinicians that provide help and support to the homeless people. The clinician’s network provides access to a wide range of medical support staff that includes Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Dentists, Pharmacists and other medical practitioners that have offered time to support the program. (National Council for the Welfare of the Homeless, 2011).  The medical care also supports links to mental health councillors, psychologists and those requiring help with substance abuse.

Legal Support and Help

The centre also provides links to the Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) who are a not for profit law firm that has been established to provide free legal support and assistance to the low income residents of Northern Virginia.  This body provides a high quality legal advocacy service to low income families who are in critical need of legal support – this covers a range of services including personal safety, housing, medical benefits, family welfare and education.  (LSNV, 2011)

The North Virginia Perspective
For those in danger of becoming homeless and in need of important advice, help or information a good website is available.  This is provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban development[2] and contains advice, contacts and important links in order to obtain help before situations spiral out of control.  This includes useful advice on how to avoid foreclosure, how to pay outstanding bills by reconsolidating your finances, advisory councillors and a wealth of other resources including the Virginia Homeless intervention program.  There are in excess of 30 suburban Virginia homeless shelter addresses[3] for Northern Virginia.  As such the area provides fairly comprehensive coverage for those in need within this area.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development provided the statistics for the Homeless persons in 2009 (DHCD, 2009).

Conclusions

The problems of the Homeless in America are growing during difficult economic times.  Despite this the various community shelters and charities are making a difference in terms of saving lives and helping people to find ways back into employment, shelters and rehabilitation from illness and the trauma of trying to raise children in poverty, particularly that of the single mothers. The generosity of people and volunteers that provide the range of diversified services certainly make a substantive difference for the forgotten and under-privileged element of society.

The concept of people with mental illness walking the streets without adequate care or supervision is a serious social concern to society.  These centres provide hope for such people to be recognized and obtain levels of treatment that otherwise would go ignored.

Works Cited

Carpenters Shelter. (2011). The Carpenters Shelter. Retrieved 5 27, 2011, from Carpenters Shelter: http://www.carpentersshelter.org/

DHCD. (2009). Department of Housing & Community Development. Retrieved 5 27, 2011, from DHCD: http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/HomelessnesstoHomeownership/PDFs/VA_Statewide_PIT_CountSummary.pdf

LSNV. (2011). Legal Services of North Virginia. Retrieved 5 27, 2011, from LSNV: http://www.lsnv.org/

McAllister, T. (2011, 1 10). The Cold Reality of Homelessness in Alexandria. Retrieved 5 27, 2011, from Action Alexandria: http://www.actionalexandria.org/blog/cold-reality-homelessness-alexandria

National Council for the Welfare of the Homeless. (2011). Health Care For The Homeless Clinicians’ Network. Retrieved 5 27, 2011, from National Council for the Welfare of the Homeless: http://www.nhchc.org/clinicalresources/

[1]Carpenters Shelter, 930 N Henry Street, Alexandria VA  Tel: 703 548 7500

[2]http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=va&topic=homeless

[3]www.novaregion.org/helpingresources