Shelters prohibit registered sex offenders access even in sub-zero temperatures. Lawmakers nationally fail to resolve this issue.. We urge folks to contact your local lawmakers and shelters, and ask them to resolve this issue before another freezes to death.12-8-2009 Pennsylvania:
Editor's note: This week is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. During five open house events at shelters throughout the county, residents got to learn more about the homeless' plight in the area. Franklin County Commissioners signed Homeless Awareness Week proclamations at two sites.
Helping the homeless involves a lot more than food, beds and shelter from the cold, according to representatives of local homeless shelters.
In addition to those factors, they must think about security and protection, issues that might require screenings and criminal background checks before a person is taken in.
In some cases, the shelters might only check to see if the homeless person is a registered sex offender. No other criminal records are reviewed.
Trudy Wesley, director of the Homeless Shelter of Franklin County, said the facility follows the federal definition of homeless because the shelter receives federal funding. The definition states a "homeless" person is either an individual who lacks a fixed, regular nighttime residence and someone who has a residence that is a publicly or privately supervised shelter or a public or private place not designed to be used as sleeping accommodations for humans.
The shelter does a pre-screening to make sure someone applying to get into the shelter is qualified to be accepted.
Anyone who is diagnosed with a mental health issue that is prescribed to be on medication and isn't taking it can be denied admission. Sex offenders and anyone on federal parole is also not permitted in the shelter.
Anyone who has had major drug or alcohol problems in the past must be sober for 30 consecutive days in order to be guaranteed admission.
Wesley said each applicant has to be taken on a case-by-case basis.
"You can't have a cookie-cutter approach because everyone's needs are different," Wesley said.
Wesley also said that anyone looking to be admitted into the shelter that is unemployed has to be willing to go through a program that helps occupants gain employment and begin saving for their own permanent housing.
The Franklin County shelter has a capacity for 18 people and currently has five available beds.
Administrative Assistant Karen Riley said one of the reasons there are currently vacancies is that the winter cold has not hit the region yet, meaning many opt to sleep in cars, rather than go to a shelter.
"If they have a vehicle, they'd rather sleep in their car. I look for it in the next few weeks to increase," Riley said.
"It's a last resort. If they can find something else, they'll take it," Wesley said.
Waynesboro New Hope Shelter
Waynesboro's New Hope Shelter works with all people facing homelessness. It screens applicants to ensure there are not registered sex offenders, according to William Burcher, executive director.
"We must protect our other residents. We have women and children here," he said.
New Hope can hold as many as 40 residents. In September and October, it averaged 37, Burcher said. It now has 28.
The shelter accepts people from out of town, and even out of state. Most of the residents are from Franklin County, Burcher said.
"I do think the economy is playing a part in the homelessness, especially with the time they stay here," said Shari Houdeshell, the shelter's newest manager. "The faces aren't changing as quickly as they did in the past. It's taking longer for people to find assistance."
Burcher explained there are two criteria the shelter looks at in admitting people. First, the people must be willing to work if they're employable, he said.
"We have programs to help them find employment, and once they're employed, we help them find a home," he said.
Second, the shelter considers disability and whether the person is "between apartments," and needs a place to stay to save up money, Burcher said.
He said the shelter also takes people "right out of prison" as part of a home plan as long as they're willing to work. "We're a place where people get a second chance. When they come here they're at the very bottom. We give them a helping hand to help them out of a difficult situation."
Chambersburg cold weather shelter, Candleheart
The Chambersburg Cold Weather Drop-in Shelter, which is to be open from Dec. 4 to the first week of April, is an emergency shelter for the homeless to come out of the cold, said Craig Newcomer, shelter director.
Criminal background checks are not a requirement for entering the shelter or using its services, according to Newcomer. He said the shelter is for anyone who needs shelter. Women and men are welcome, regardless of their backgrounds.
Children can not stay at the shelter, he said, but staff will help a family make other arrangements.
"They have 14 days when they first come into the shelter. To get an extra night, they have to do four hours of community service," he said.
The cold weather shelter is typically opened from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with the exception of the time for Bible studies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. On those evenings, it opens at 9 p.m., Newcomer said.
Newcomer said the shelter is a totally faith-based program that is funded through various churches in the community. Last year, an average of 12 people stayed at the shelter, which can house as many as 20.
Newcomer also is director of the Candleheart Center on Fourth Street in Chambersburg, a nonprofit program of Maranatha Ministries.
"Candleheart is a program where we redevelop the mind-set with biblical principles, structure and the teaching of integrity," Newcomer said. "We try to give them a jump start on life with a positive mental outlook and attitude."
For Candleheart Center, a criminal background check is required for the use of the service. So far, a number of graduates have gone on to college, Job Corps and trade schools, according to Newcomer.
"We try to rehabilitate their mind-set and give them a hand-up instead of a hand-out," he said of the program that lasts about six months.
During that period, the clients participate in classroom study and teaching. They learn about career growth, goals and opportunities, and receive guidance on how to obtain those goals and opportunities, Newcomer said. ..Source.. KEITH PARADISE and ROSCOE BARNES III Staff writers
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