Tag: Homeless

W.Va. Homeless Programs Get More than $8.3 Million

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say more than $8.3 million in federal funding has been approved for 63 programs across the state that help homeless people.

According to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, the Department of Housing and Urban Development money includes more than $624,000 for the Huntington Housing Authority’s renewal of its food stamps program.

Other amounts include more than $717,000 in two approvals to the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness for a leasing project and renewing its information technology system for collecting client data.

Three approvals totaling more than Raleigh County Community Action Association for leasing, its expansion, supportive housing and rehousing total more than $510,000.

Procedure to Dismantle Charleston Homeless Camps Established

Charleston officials have established procedures for how future homeless encampments in the city should be dismantled.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that City Council passed the resolution Monday, nearly a year after Mayor Danny Jones ordered the dismantling of the makeshift camp known as “Tent City.”

Under the new resolution, the city will provide at least 14 days’ notice to those staying at a homeless encampment if it’s on public property. Within 48 hours of that notice, the city also will provide notice to groups that assist the homeless.

The city will also increase its annual contribution to social services agency Prestera Center from $48,000 to $75,000. The money will go toward hiring two full-time outreach workers who will be liaisons between law enforcement, homeless individuals and the business community.

Reports Show Homelessness Declining in W.Va.

A federal report shows homelessness declining in West Virginia over the past six years.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development says that tracks a national decline, where almost 550,000 people were homeless for at least one night this year, down 14 percent since 2010.

In West Virginia, the report lists 1,387 homeless people, down almost 25 percent in one year and 39 percent since 2010.

They include 348 families with children, all in shelters or temporary housing.

HUD also estimates the state has 95 homeless youths, 143 military veterans and 161 people who are chronically homeless.

Estimates are based on data from 3,000 cities and counties and a January count of people in emergency shelters, transitional housing and unsheltered settings. 

W.Va. Homeless Man Settles with Charleston Over Backpack

  A homeless man who says a Charleston policeman tossed his backpack off a bridge has agreed to a settlement in exchange for agreeing not to sue the city.

The Charleston Gazette reports that Andrew Joel Hunt settled for $1,500, according to an agreement. The newspaper said the backpack tossed into the Elk River contained a laptop and photographs of his late wife.

Patrolman Brian Lightner had been on paid leave since Sept. 9 following the August incident involving Hunt.

Chief Brent Webster says Lightner has been “separated from employment” with the Charleston Police Department.

Disorderly conduct and public intoxication charges against 26-year-old Hunt were eventually dismissed, according to city court records.

Jobs First Program Helps Huntington’s Homeless

Officials at the Cabell-Huntington Coalition for the Homeless are taking a new approach to the problem of homelessness and unemployment.

  Jobs First is a new idea developed by coalitions around the country. Instead of working with job candidates by training, developing and molding them before they apply for jobs, Jobs First helps them find jobs right away and continues to train them while they’re employed.

Helping the unemployed and homeless find work first puts them one step closer to a stable living environment where they can provide for themselves.

The Huntington Coalition started the program last July with a goal of helping 10% of Huntington’s homeless gain employment in a year.

The Coalition offers help ranging from:

  • Finding the proper clothing
  • Getting to and from the new job
  • Keeping that job.

So far the program has helped find jobs in:

  • Telemarketing
  • Fast food
  • Office work
  • River barges.

The program has placed 30 people in jobs and as word-of-mouth has grown throughout the homeless community the pace has picked up recently, with nine people finding jobs in January. 

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