Published Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Volunteers needed to solve homeless situation in Coweta

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

Tonya Spears and Marty Hanson would like to have people help residents at BelAir Family Center with budgeting and spiritual issues -- even with day-to-day encouragement.

Derenda Rowe would like for callers to One Roof Ecumenical Outreach to hear a person's voice rather than a voicemail message. "That's all going to depend on volunteers," Rowe said philosophically at Wednesday's Coweta Homeless Task Force meeting.

The meeting, which took place in the board room at the Rutledge Building on Hospital Road, was called by Tina Darby, office manager for United Way in Coweta and Fayette Counties. The local United Way office is in the Rutledge facility.

BelAir provides shelter for homeless families in Coweta County. One Roof provides a variety of services, and Rowe does the screening for BelAir. Helping the homeless requires tangible things -- water, food, toiletries. Helping them also calls for human capital -- people who will help someone practice for a job interview, learn how to use a computer, figure out how to use a checkbook and make plans for the future.

Mental health counseling, parenting classes and spiritual guidance are needed by those who are homeless. "They need real world budget skills," Hanson said.

"We need some health care services," Hanson said.

"They need to see something spiritual going on -- in outreach from the community," Hanson added. She said she wanted to see Bible studies and other spiritual programs, led by volunteers, at BelAir.

She also suggested that one-on-one mentors would be ideal. Many of the adults at BelAir express the need to have someone to whom they can talk. Sorting through issues and problems is sometimes easier when there is a listening ear available.

"They just need to sit down and talk to someone," Hanson said.

"Everybody knows you need money, unfortunately," Hanson said, referring to BelAir's ongoing costs. She added that the "thoughts and minds" of volunteers can be even more valuable in turning around a difficult situation for the people living at BelAir.

Rowe said One Roof will be focusing on volunteerism in 2009. The organization will be asking participating churches and organizations to appoint a volunteer chairperson who will pull volunteers together to help with needs ranging from fixing a leaky faucet to teaching a class on budgeting.

"We just really need to have all hands on deck," Rowe said.

Billy Arnall, treasurer for One Roof, said he has talked with Mark Whitlock, chief executive officer of Central Educational Center, about CEC offering some classes at BelAir. The types of classes needed -- computer training, customer service training -- are being examined. The goal would be to offer classes that would help people get to work quickly.

The classes should offer "something they need so they can get out of that environment," Arnall said.

"We do have some who are in GED school," Rowe said of the BelAir clients. She said One Roof is helping some with transportation to classes.

Darby said a list of needs would be compiled and shared in an effort to get resources to those who need them.

Rowe talked about donations that are helping Cowetans in need. The Latter-day Saints Church has provided canned peaches and access to other food from the Atlanta regional LDS cannery.

Clorox donated cleaning supplies, and Rite-Aid has donated shampoos and other toiletries. Dr. Christy Stoffel, a local veterinarian, has arranged for pet food to come to One Roof to help families keep their pets.

"We give out cat and dog food quicker than we can get it in," Rowe said.

Many people who are homeless or otherwise in need get food stamps. Toiletries, medicine and similar needs, however, can be a challenge.

"That's liquid gold -- having those things food stamps will not cover," Darby said.