Experiencing Homelessness
The definition of those who are experiencing homelessness includes:
• An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or places not meant for habitation;
• An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence (within 14 days), provided that no subsequent housing has been identified and the individual/family lacks support networks or resources needed to obtain housing;
• Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children and youth who qualify under other Federal statutes, such as the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, have not had a lease or ownership interest in a housing unit in the last 60 or more days, have had two or more moves in the last 60 days, and who are likely to continue to be unstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment;
• An individual or family who is fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, has no other residence, and lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
At Risk of Homelessness
The definition of those who are at risk of homelessness includes individuals and families who:
• Have an annual income below 30 percent of median family income for the area, as determined by HUD;
• Do not have sufficient resources or support networks, immediately available to prevent them from moving to an emergency shelter or place not meant for habitation;
• Exhibit one or more risk factors of homelessness, including recent housing instability or exiting a publicly funded institution or system of care such as foster care or a mental health facility.
Homeless/Transient (Living Arrangement)
An individual with no permanent living arrangement, i.e., no fixed place of residence, is considered homeless or transient. Someone who is transient is neither a member of a household nor a resident of an institution. For example:
• Someone who sleeps in doorways, overnight shelters, parks, bus stations, etc.;
• A person who stays with a succession of friends or relatives and has no permanent living arrangement on the first day of the month.
Source: Social Security Administration Program Operations Manual System (POMS)
Home not so sweet home
BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
In the United States, there are over half a million people experiencing homelessness. These individuals live on a sidewalk, in a temporary shelter, transitional housing or sleep in a place not meant for habitation (abandoned building, under bridges, tent cities, etc.).
Nearly 3,000 Kansans were counted as experiencing homelessness in January 2024. According to data released by the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition, there were a total of 2,815 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 24, the night cities counted their homeless population doing “Point in Time” surveys. This annual survey counts sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, using volunteer resources. That total is nearly 7% higher than 2023. The state of California had the highest homeless population in 2023, with over 161,000 homeless people.
Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark, a 29-year veteran of law enforcement, has been in Great Bend since January 2021. Before moving to Great Bend he worked at the Kansas City, KS police department where he saw many homeless people daily. Although the numbers of homeless pale in comparison, Haulmark says Great Bend is home to several homeless individuals.
“We do (have homeless),” Haulmark said. “For the most part, they’re down by the river. I wouldn’t venture a guess on how many - I don’t know. We did a big cleanup last year down at the river and there was a huge amount of trash,10 and a half tons, and debris that, I believe, was generated by those folks. I know at that point I saw evidence of at least a dozen people or so.”
Becoming homeless can’t be categorized into one exact circumstance. Each individual has their own unique formula as to how and why. It’s obvious that financial problems are a factor, but so much more can go into it.
“I don’t know how people get into that,” Haulmark said. “They could lose their job. I think that there are certainly some that maybe have some mental health issues. Maybe they don’t have any resources or family members to help take care of them. Or maybe they come to a situation in their life where sometimes family doesn’t want to help anymore. And then there’s some that maybe have a legal issue and end up in that situation.”
But even with a poor financial situation, a lack of a strong social circle or other issues, there are options in Great Bend that one can go to for assistance.
“I know that the Dream Center helps with meals for them,” he said. “The sheriff’s department occasionally will give a voucher for a hotel room for folks. It depends on what the issue is. Each individual might be different, but if it’s a financial issue, there’s obviously resources to maybe help them to bridge that gap, to get them back to where they need to be.
“But if there’s underlying issues, like legal issues, or mental health, it’s a bigger problem. I know some of the churches do some outreach, but I think that the Dream Center is the one constant that I’m aware of.”
Among other services, the Central Kansas Dream Center, located at the corner of Williams and Broadway offers a light breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, serving 50 meals or more daily to those in need. The Dream Center also provides a shower and laundry facilities for them to use.
Another major outreach source for the homeless is the Salvation Army, located in the lower level of the Central Kansas Dream Center building. Jennifer Vest is the Salvation Army’s outreach coordinator for Barton County aas well as the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and is vital to the clients that come to her from providing clothes to helping them fill out applications. These programs and continual care for the Barton County community are only made possible through generous donations and dedicated volunteers.
“We are one of the programs that gives out Bomba socks,” Vest said. “There’s different groups that go out to the river and help some of the homeless, and I give them socks. I also put them down in the Kingdom Closet for people to have access to them.
“I also have finances that come from the Kettles and different fundraisers to help with paying rent, help with utilities, medical bills, medicines - you name it.”
Vest has also helped people transition into apartments. She assisted with the application process for them. She said she has helped others with ordering social security cards and birth certificates.
“I helped one get an apartment at the high rise that I know stayed at the river for a long time,” Vest said. “I helped with the entire process of getting him things he needed like a social security card, birth certificate, ID or driver’s license and a bank statement where his money is deposited. He was able to leave the river and move into an apartment.”
Without an actual homeless shelter in the city or county, the homeless will continue to fight the elements of the winter months without proper housing.
“I’m a big believer in community outreach in whatever form that that looks like,” Haulmark said. “So, anytime we can help, we’re going to. It just goes back to the fact that we alone (GBPD) can’t solve the problem. We want to help them if we can. We’d definitely be a stakeholder to be part of that conversation. But it’s not a one entity issue. It will take a coalition of resources to help fix that.”
