Homeless Advocates Push for Awareness

Advocates for the homeless are gathering in cities all over the country in the next few days for Homeless Memorial day. In jackson they'll be raising awareness of a growing problem.

At the Opportunity Center Day Shelter in Jackson, Director Mike Thomas describes how the more than 100 daily visitors to the shelter check in (nat sound)Visitors can wash their clothes, and use the phone or a computer to check up on job listings. Thomas says given a little help, many of these people can get back on their feet.

“We try to set the stage. Then we try to inspire them, motivate them and encourage them, because it can be better than it is.”

59-year-old Bob Muse is a former history and art teacher who says he used to have an average life.

“I would call it normal, I went to college at Eastern Michigan University. I taught acting, I taught art. So I would think I was living a fairly normal life, doing fairly normal things.”

Bob moved to Jackson from North Mississippi to pursue art and acting, but after losing his housing three months ago he expresses himself through poetry.

In a busy kitchen a few blocks down the street, Stewpot Community services feeds between 100 and 200 people a day. Stewpot Employee Don London helps organize the daily meals. He says there’s been an increase in requests for meals and food in recent months.

“Last year we gave away about 400 Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets. This time our numbers have grown to about 600. And we’re sure it’s because of the economy that we have more people coming in to receive help”

At the same time there are more requests for help, there’s also fewer donations. Stewpot Executive Director Frank Spencer says services are up about 10 percent, but donations are down around 10 percent. Meaning the agency is getting stretched thin.

“We’re having to cut back on usage of staff, and cut the quality of food. I don’t mean bad food, but less protein and more to the vegetable side.”

Linda Townes directs the Mississippi State Hospital Homeless program. She hopes Homeless Memorial Day will help raise awareness of the needs to help the homeless community, and put the problem on a level more understandable to the average person.

“Find out their story, because everybody’s got a story and I think you’ll find you’re a lot closer to them than you think.”

Estimates on the number of homeless in Mississippi range from two to nine thousand.