By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Officials are saying homelessness is on the rise in the King City, with many individuals displaced, or about to be displaced, due to financial hardship.

“It’s an issue that many don’t realize is going on,” remarked Rhonda McCowen, executive director for the United Way of South Central Illinois. “I’ve seen an increase [of homelessness] in the community. I’ve been getting calls from emergency rooms because there’s nowhere else to go.”

McCowen said the United Way has held “several meetings” with the Jefferson County Ministerial Association in “trying to figure out the homeless issue.”

“The main problem,” said JCMA President Rob Dyer, “is it is limited to where to send people. There’s the Hope in Christ Shelter and outside of that [the homeless] have nowhere else.”

Dyer said though he believes there are “some other options in town,” many times the JCMA send people to hotels. “That’s not a good long term solution,” he stressed.

And though there are travelers who pass through the King city looking for a place to stay during the winter months, Dyer says his personal observation is that in the winter months “we see a lot more local homeless situations” because “people just can’t pay their bills.”

Hope Stuckey, the director of Hope in Christ Ministries Homeless Shelter, says she too has received “a lot of calls” from individuals, including mothers with children, who either have no place to stay due to their financial situation or are looking for a place to stay because they cannot keep up with the rent of their current residence.

Stuckey, who has also met with the JCMA, says she often receives calls from “people coming into town that don’t have relation here, no jobs and they say they have no money. You wonder why you’d come to town with none of the above — it takes a lot to get back on your feet.”

She said it’s important for people to understand that HICM is not a “hotel for free.”

“We’re trying to help people get back on their feet and don’t want people to think they don’t have to do anything to get themselves back on their feet.”

After filling out an application with HICM and clearance from the police of any outstanding warrants, Stuckey said clients may stay at the homeless shelter for a maximum of 10 days. However, during that time, those who stay must try to make an effort to regain not only a home, but financial ground.

“It breaks our heart when people make no effort whatsoever,” she said. “We’re doing our part, but they need to do their part.” Stuckey added it is not unusual for individuals to either lie about their circumstances or not show up after inquiring about having a place to stay.

Individuals who do make an effort to better their circumstances may be approved for housing at the transitional house being completed on Perkins Avenue, she explained. The housing is for “the working homeless,” and though there’s been progress with the completion of the home, work has been “moving slowly,” she said.

Qualified individuals may remain at the transition home for three months on the condition they “pay a small rent and save money to get back on their feet.”

Plans are also in the works for a shelter for mothers and their children, Stuckey continued, at a facility adjacent to the HICM shelter.

However, she added that donations, volunteers and help with heating and plumbing are needed in order for the projects to be completed.

Dyer said the JCMA has a “vision of what we need in the community” and has talked to a number of communities about the homeless situation.

“We’ve talked about what we need is a shelter that has counseling services that helps people become independent, not just giving a place to stay overnight.”

He said creating a shelter such as The Lighthouse Shelter in Marion would require someone who would be willing to write grants and to make the idea “their personal mission.”

“We’re kind of stuck right now,” he continued. “We’ve got some ideas and talked to communities. Through the United Way network we have been able to get some contacts.”

Stuckey’s concern about the idea of a shelter with counseling services is that it would be turned into a “long term shelter,” rather than short term, and that individuals “won’t leave to help themselves get off their feet.”