By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — As the economy remains uncertain and companies begin to either lay off or schedule seasonal curtailments, more families are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

Also, local thrift stores have reported record sales increases as consumers begin to turn to those businesses in order to save money.

Susan Williams of Twice Nice Thrift Shop indicated consumers were “expressing that they’re worried about finances,” while Kim Davis of the Salvation Army stated she anticipated more customers during the holiday season.

And while these reports support the fact that consumers have been affected by the dwindling economy, it is also difficult for the stores to determine whether customers frequenting the businesses are homeless or not.

Judy Swinson, who is the director of volunteer services at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, says The Bargain Box, which is run by St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Auxiliary volunteers, has also been providing for those in need.

“We’re seeing people coming in that don’t have money for additional things at Christmas,” she explained. “Maybe they don’t have a winter coat or don’t have gloves, hats or scarves.”

Recently, a gentleman requested help in finding a blanket to stay warm, she said, an indication that the man may have been homeless.

And, homelessness is an issue facing those in the local area.

Janet and John Raquet say they are currently without a home and have been sleeping in their car for two weeks. The Raquet’s troubles began months ago, when Janet, a displaced homemaker attending Rend Lake College, and John, a former truck driver, lost their home due to financial difficulties. The couple had to sell their personal items in order to raise money to stay at a local hotel and, by the end of August, was faced with losing another residence.

In September, John Raquet received a call from a temporary employement agency in September and was hired as a temp at Continental Tire North America. But the Raquets received another blow to their finances when Raquet was notified he would be among the 124 temporary employees laid off last month.

“Since Thanksgiving I’ve been looking for a job and place to stay,” he said. “We’ve been to every place in Mt. Vernon.”

Though Raquet receives unemployment benefits, he says their money goes toward essentials and past due bills, food and gas. He says he keeps a cell phone so prospective employers can reach him.

Janet Raquet, who has been a volunteer at Angels on Assignment for the past four years, says that organization did try to help them find a place to stay. However, due to their financial circumstances, the couple was not able to come up with the amount of the funds in order to rent an apartment.

Carol Thomas of Angels on Assignment said she has seen a “higher number of people” at the organization for the first-time requesting help with power and rent bills. “So far we’ve been able to help,” she said, adding that the organization has been trying to assist the Raquets.

The couple also approached Hope in Christ Ministries, Janet Raquet said, and was told they could only stay two days. However, director Hope Stuckey says the couple had a cat “who was like a family member,” and because HICM does not allow pets, the couple chose to stay in their car. Stuckey explained that HICM provided “overnight temporary shelter,” based on individual needs.

“Some people think it’s long term, but it’s not,” Stuckey reiterated. “We need to assess people’s need.”

Prior to calling HICM, the Raquets say they have stayed with various family members “at periods of time.”

“It seems that no matter where you turn, instead of people giving you a positive outlook, they are negative,” Janet Raquet remarked. “Nobody’s going to know about people like us until the weather starts dropping and people begin to freeze.”

“You never know when a layoff is coming,” her husband added.

Rhonda McCowen, executive director of the United Way of South Central Illinios, previously said she is seeing “an increase [of homelessness] in the community.”

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

JCMA President Rob Dyer stated the main problem regarding homelessness is that “it is limited to where to send people.”

The Raquets say they also approached the Rescue Mission for help with their plight, but discovered the organization only allowed men to stay there. Attempts by the Register-News to contact management of the mission were unsuccessful.

The couple hope that area churches and the city begin to work together to find a solution to a problem they say is increasing.

“We think it’s unfair that there are shelters only for men,” Janet Raquet complained. “We don’t like to ask for help, but after being turned down away so many times, you give up.”

The Raquets plan to continue to stay in their car until they can find a solution to their plight which, while temperatures keep dropping, makes it difficult for them to stay warm.

“We run the car until the car warms up, then we shut it down. Then we start it up again,” John Raquet said. “We’re fortunate in the sense we don’t have any young children and I can’t imagine what families with children are doing or how they’re coping.”