Beaumont, TX, November 10, 2011: With the economy in a slump and jobs at a minimum, Beaumont city officials are seeing more people living on the streets than ever before. While Beaumont has many organizations that help these people, it is difficult for officials to know exactly where to direct the homeless for the proper help. Is Some Other Place the right location? Or is it the Salvation Army or Baptist Hospital or Spindletop MHMR?
The Salvation Army offers a place to stay and a program to help families get back on their feet. Some Other Place offers meals, an activity center and supplies for those in need. Baptist Hospital Behavioral Health Center offers facilities for those with mental health issues. Each of these places (and many others) has a set of regulations that must be followed and funding that must be obtained to be able to help those in need.
Unfortunately, there is not an organization that knows how all of these organizations function or every resource available to people in need on the streets. Through the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Beaumont program, there is a group that is working on a solution for this problem. They call themselves the "Hub of Hope".
It is the goal of the Hub of Hope to establish an umbrella group that can provide direction for the people on the street, as well as the people who are trying to help them. The group believes that a difference can be made for many people through this program. The intent is to create a database of information as well as a network of mentors who can help people who want to turn their life around and get off the streets. This can begin with something as simple as helping them obtain identification so they can apply for a job or housing or assistance of any kind. Or it can encompass helping them on the road to recovering the dignity they have lost by walking with them each step of the way.
According to Paula O'Neal, Executive Director of Some Other Place, a hub of information would be a great asset to the area. Mark Severns, Director of Baptist Hospital Behavioral Health Center told the group that homelessness isn't always an issue of economics. Some people on the street have mental problems and need medication to function within our society. Even having a database that catalogs agencies and their services would be a huge help to health professionals.
The issue of homelessness is a reality in our community. The Hub of Hope will work toward creating a better community for these people through their mission which states: The Hub of Hope will seek to empower the homeless to use resources available to them in order to make positive changes in their circumstances. This will be done by working with local entities to identify persons who desire change and giving them the ability to build a better life for themselves through mentoring."
For more information about this program, please contact Shirley Bartos at (409) 838-6581.
