In The News

Sunday, September 6, 2009
Lancaster, Pa., Sunday News
Local & State

By Emily Wolgemuth
Sunday News Staff Writers

Two years ago, a homeless woman residing at Clare House, a transitional shelter in Lancaster, was asked what a permanent home would mean to her.

"If I had a home," she said, "I could relax knowing things were mine. No more sharing space. I could spend more quality time with my daughter alone. I could do things on my own schedule.

"But most of all, I could say I have a home."

Now, as a program graduate of Clare House, she has realized that dream and is living with her daughter in their own home.

While transitional housing can play an essential role for homeless families, ideally, it's a short-term solution.

The problem facing Lancaster County, officials say, is that demand for affordable, permanent housing far exceeds the supply.

To solve this problem, Lancaster County, Lancaster city, United Way and the Inter agency Council for the Homeless have partnered to develop The Heading Home Fund, a plan to end homelessness in the county within a decade.

Asked whether that decidedly ambitious goal was serious or more of a catchy tagline, United Way communications director Becca Stamp didn't hesitate with her answer.

"That's really the goal," she said. "We realize we're setting the bar high, but if we don't, we'll never achieve it."

The fund will provide grants for projects that support the so-called "housing first" aspect of the plan.

"Housing first" seeks to find permanent housing for the homeless while ensuring access to services
that allow them to stay there.

"Ideally, you wouldn't want to build more shelters; you'd want to add housing," said Tom Clingan, United Way director of homelessness
and affordable housing. This would stop the cycle of the homeless“going from shelter to shelter to shelter," he said.

"Right now we are serving 10 families," said Jennifer Powell, Clare House executive director. "But if we had enough affordable, permanent housing, we could have at least eight families out of here by tomorrow, and that'd be great."

Bob Thomas, president of Tabor Community Services, a housing and budget counseling organization, acknowledged that Tabor is also always looking to place clients into their own housing.

"Caseworkers try to get clients into permanent housing as soon as possible," Thomas said.

"[Clients] are much more successful in getting their lives stabilized if they're living in their own house rather than in transitional housing, because [in transitional housing] it's harder to deal with issues that led to their homelessness in the first place."

A High note

The High Foundation has jump-started Heading Home's mission by providing a $40,000 grant.

Clingan said this money "will not only provide help toward an immediate need for increasing affordable, permanent housing ... but will also serve as a catalyst to encourage others throughout the Lancaster County community to contribute to the fund."

The fund will provide funding for agencies, organizations and individuals. Those interested can apply to receive financial aid, offsetting the price of renting, buying, or renovating apartments and single-family homes for the formerly homeless.

A review board will consider all requests and ask, "Does this make sense according to our objectives?" Clingan said. "If it does, we go from there."