CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. – The Cullman Tribune is looking into the issue of homelessness in Cullman County. Over the course of a few articles, we will try to get an idea of the scope of the problem, talk to some people who are trying to address it and see what is being done and what needs to be done.
Statewide statistics
In January 2018, the last point for which statistics are available, an average of 3,434 people were in a state of homelessness on any given day in Alabama, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH; see more at usich.gov). Within that count:
- Approximately 10% are veterans
- 280 households/families experience homelessness as units
- 158 individuals are between the ages of 18 and 24
- 540 are experiencing long-term homelessness
This “any given day” number does not reflect the total number of people who experience homelessness in a given year; the actual body of persons who make up those numbers is constantly fluctuating as people find or lose homes.
For instance, through the course of the 2016-17 school year, Alabama’s public schools reported that 14,112 students experienced homelessness at some point. Of those:
- 12,021 found shelter with another family/household
- 735 stayed in shelters
- 681 stayed in hotels/motels
- 675 spent at least some time with no shelter at all
- 583 were not accompanied by any adult
According to numbers reported on the Alabama State Department of Education school report card site, in the Cullman County school system, of the 9,382 students enrolled in the 2018-19 school year, 27 (0.29%) were reported as homeless. The Cullman City system reported that, of 3,184 students, eight (0.25%) were homeless.
Getting accurate numbers for any place’s homeless population is difficult, and Cullman County is no different. The Tribune has reached out to multiple organizations that work with the homeless, to see what they are encountering.
The first report comes from Travis Sharpe, president of Cullman-based Unsheltered International (UI), who said, “I can just tell you that we get four to 10 calls weekly from people who are homeless and needing help. On any given night you can find a dozen or more people sleeping in their cars at various places in the county. Also, several people are in hotels each night and a few in the woods in tents.”
More about Unsheltered International
Said Sharpe, “We began Unsheltered International in 2011 to bring help and hope to people experiencing homelessness. We wanted to assist churches in their mission to declare God’s glory to all people. Sadly, the homeless population is often overlooked. That’s why we started this ministry. We assist churches by raising awareness and also directly helping them help the needy in their cities. Our home base in here in Cullman, but we work in six to eight states per year as well as overseas.
“Our organization offers emergency services such as clothing, food, winter needs, showers and counseling. We work with the police department often when they need help finding solutions.”
From its warehouse at 479 County Road 827 west of Cullman, UI offers the following services:
- Prayer and counseling- Mondays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or by appointment during the week.
- Showers- Mondays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or by appointment during the week. Showers are provided at the warehouse.
- Clothing- Mondays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or by appointment during the week. Clothing is provided at the warehouse.
- Snack bags- Mondays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or by appointment during the week.
- Hygiene- Mondays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or by appointment during the week.
- Winter needs such as blankets, coats, etc.- Mondays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or by appointment during the week.
No appointment is needed on Mondays. Sharpe advised, “Just show up at our warehouse.”
All appointments depend on availability of UI volunteers. The group does not provide motel stays.
Sharpe added, “We can also meet people anywhere in Cullman County to do an assessment of their needs and introduce our ministry to them. Most of the time we can bring immediate needs such as snack bags, blankets, etc.”
Immediate need and an upcoming opportunity
UI leases its warehouse, and the property is to be sold after Christmas. Between now and then, the group has to find the means to purchase the property or locate another facility. Those with available facilities or donors for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit can help.
While UI works on the future of its warehouse, Sharpe reported, “We are in the beginning stages of planning for a great project to really help solve the homeless problem here in Cullman. We are looking for build a tiny home village where we can house people who are homeless. It would be emergency housing as well as mid-term housing for Cullman county residents who are battling homelessness.”
For more information, to donate, get help or to offer help, call the UI main office at 256-737-0112 ext. 180, or visit www.facebook.com/unsheltered/ or http://www.unsheltered.org.
This is the first article in a series. The Tribune will continue reaching out to local organizations and officials, and will report what it learns.
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