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Fighting poverty one week at a time |
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Thursday, 03 November 2005 |
by HEATHER SANDERS
News Writer
The federal definition of “homeless” is “an individual who lacks a
fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence” or someone whose
primary residence is a shelter offering temporary housing, according to
the United States Code.
Ian A. Mance, office manager of the Hospitality House of Boone, said
the shelter serves seven counties and is only able to house about 47
homeless persons in Watauga County.
“It’s a much bigger social problem than it used to be,” junior management major Jennifer R. Von Egidy said.
Von Egidy is coordinating the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at Appalachian State University Nov. 7-11.
Several organizations, including Appalachian & the Community Together, sponsor the annual event.
The week kicks off with a sleep-out on Duck Pond Field, Von Egidy said.
The event includes group activities, speakers and a blanket fundraiser
for the Hospitality House.
The week will end with Hungry for a Date, a date auction hosted by the Campus Resident Student Association.
Jessica L. Barrier, a junior education major, said instead of money,
people are asked to donate cans. Each can earns people a token to bid
for dates.
Barrier said CRSA will send letters to residence halls asking for three or four people from each to sign up for the auction.
All donated food will go to the Hunger Coalition.
Mance, who recently wrote his master’s directed research paper on
homelessness in the area, said on an average night at Hospitality
House, people have to be turned away from because there is no room.
“It really, really sucks to turn people away,” Mance said. “We’re the last stop for most of them.”
The Hospitality House offers meals, substance abuse counseling, job counseling and rent assistance, among other services.
Approximately 18 percent of Watauga County residents live below the poverty level.
Mance said the house has started assisting low-income families with the
price of fuel for cars and heating. There is a concern about the winter
months due to the rise in home heating costs.
The rise in gas prices has also created a problem for some who live
outside the Town of Boone and are not on the AppalCART route because
they cannot afford to drive to work.
Mance said about one-fifth of the residents at the Hospitality House are veterans, and about 70 percent are male.
This may be due to more government assistance for women, especially
those who have children. The Hospitality House almost always has
children in residence, with five living there now. The leading cause of
homelessness among women in the area is domestic violence, Mance said.
The local homeless are of different races, religions and backgrounds,
he said. Some used to have upper-class lifestyles and have suffered
enormous tragedy, but “some have been living on the margins of society
all their lives,” Mance said.
Almost half the budget for the Hospitality House comes from donations in the community, especially churches, Mance said.
However, donations have decreased almost 40 percent since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.
“If we just get anybody a little more aware, the [Hunger and Homelessness] week is successful,” Von Egidy said.
Mance said although the awareness week is important, awareness should
continue throughout the year and not just at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Events
Monday
Sleep-out on Duck Pond Field
Tuesday
Many Faces of Poverty
Wednesday
Cup of Karma: Open-Mic Night
Thursday
Hunger Banquet
Friday
Hungry for a Date?
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