Education meeting sheds light on hunger and homelessness

STEUBENVILLE -- A community conversation meeting hosted by Urban Mission Ministries on Thursday offered attendees a look into the local homelessness and hunger issue through personal testimonies, as well as ways to seek solutions.

Aiming the event at both those with or without experience addressing homelessness, the Urban Mission had its representatives provide statistics and background on homelessness nationally and in the local region. Additionally, three individuals on a panel provided their unique perspectives and stories drawn from their work serving the homeless.

The meeting commemorated National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, sponsored annually by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness during the week before Thanksgiving.

Alexis White, client engagement coordinator for the Urban Mission's housing and emergency shelter ministries, began the event, saying, "Tonight we join hundreds of organizations, churches, colleges, high schools and community groups who have organized themselves with one goal in mind: To raise awareness about the issue of hunger and homelessness in their communities."

Among statistics cited were some from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cynthia Lytle, Urban Mission's director of programs and community engagement director, said that 2022 statistics from HUD show that 44 million people in the U.S. experience food insecurity, as well as 1 million in Ohio and 11,000 in Jefferson County.

Urban Mission intern Emma Cascino listed four types of homelessness: Transitional, episodic, chronic and hidden. The first two types are more common among younger people and respectively involve homelessness due to major life changes and four calendar-year periods of homelessness due to lack of resources or support.

Chronically homeless individuals compose 17 percent of the national homeless population, Cascino said, and can be the result of debilitating addiction or disabilities. Hidden homeless individuals are those that are hidden in statistics, being restricted to "couch-surfing" with friends or family.

Intern Carissa Cedillo spoke on homelessness' spiraling negative effect on one's health and well-being, stating, "When you are experiencing distress, you can't learn new skills or pay attention at school because survival mode literally turns off the part of the brain that's responsible for critical thinking, language and logic."

Among the meeting's guest panelists were Sandi Wyatt, shelter manager for the Urban Mission; Jodi Scheetz-Parrish, shelter director for Alive, Inc., and Michael Thomas, advocate and self-proprietor for the nonprofit United Front, which he founded in honor of his son.

Wyatt said she lived a successful life until the coronavirus pandemic, when she became sick without knowing why. Her health continued to decline until she realized there was a gas leak in her residence, exposing her to harmful fumes. After arguing with a family member, Wyatt decided to leave, though she had no idea where to go.

Individuals at Lighthouse Counseling and Mediation Services pointed her toward the Urban Mission's shelter at the former Martha Manor. Although she was skeptical at first, Wyatt said, the shelter "saved my life." Now, she enjoys working as a manager at that same shelter, where she's referred to as "The Lieutenant" due to her proclivity toward rules.

"I like a success story," Wyatt said. "I want (women) to find housing ... (and) do better because I know that I did better, and I know that it's possible."

Scheetz-Parrish, who has been with the domestic violence shelter Alive, Inc. for 30 years, spoke on the difficult situations she has observed, including how women in abusive relationships take between seven and 10 attempts to finally remove themselves from the harmful situation, and kids are unfortunately "along for the ride" many times.

Additionally, Scheetz-Parrish said that ALIVE Inc. has been burdened with 60 percent federal budget cuts over the past several years, and she anticipates losing another 40-to-45 percent in 2024.

Thomas said he has felt "powerless" during some of his work with the homeless, particularly when he has done everything possible, but the issue persists. Still, Thomas said he perseveres in his work to help others.

Thomas, who worked as a case manager for the Jefferson Behavioral Health System for 30 years, spoke on the Point in Time Count 2024, an annual, state-required survey taken on the amount and qualities of a community's homeless population, sheltered and unsheltered, on a single night in January.

After a Q&A period, the Urban Mission honored other local organizations, nonprofits and school districts for their work in addressing homelessness. Also, Lytle presented solution ideas to end homelessness, including long-term support, trauma-informed care and service coordination.

The Rev. Ashley Steele, executive director of the Urban Mission, said in a closing prayer: "Good and gracious God, ... we know that we can't do this work without you. ... We know that you will work your will and your way in our community if we're willing, ready and able to listen to you and respond together."