East End’s Homeless Change Face

Throughout the coldest months, — with the help of a network of 15 area churches, 17 support organizations and nearly 1,500 volunteers — shelters the East End's homeless population. This year, with economic recovery still slow, the organization is preparing for possible record numbers of guests.

"More and more, we are seeing that people have lost their homes or people that are working, but cannot afford a roof over their heads," said Tracey Lutz, program director for Maureen's Haven. "These are people that are paying into a system that has now failed them."  

Take John, for example — a 50-year-old Maureen's Haven guest that has been using the program for two and a half years. John suffers from diabetes and legionnaires disease, and he also has a job. Unfortunately, he just can't seem to make ends meet.

"I don't make enough money to have a home," John said. "Even though I am sick, I get up every morning, and I work. I'm coping with it. I just can't get out of my rut."

John's story is one that is becoming increasingly common among the guests that call Maureen's Haven home.

William, a 31-year-old guest that has had trouble with drugs and alcohol over the years, says that Maureen's Haven is helping him to better himself. Just last summer, William was living in a tent with his pregnant wife. Now, they are taking advantage of the services that Maureen's Haven offers to its guests.

"This is the best place I've been to," he said. "I'd rather be here, getting help through drug and alcohol programs instead of being on the streets and, if I don't do what I'm supposed to do in the outside world, I can't come here."

All of the Maureen's Haven guests are screened prior to being admitted to one of the organization's host shelters.

According to Lutz, screening consists of a breathalyzer test, a physical check of the guest and their baggage, as well as the visual monitoring of behavior. Transportation is provided each night to the host site, where guests are registered before proceeding to designated sleeping areas to claim their beds and put down their personal belongings.

Guests then sit down together for a nutritious meal followed by the opportunity to attend an Alcoholic's Anonymous meeting, take a hot shower, get warm clothes, consult with a medical professional or social worker, play board games, attend an English as a second language class, watch a movie — or simply rest.

According to Lutz, capacity is based on the house of worship that is acting as the host facility. Sometimes, particularly in the colder weather, maximum capacity may be reached, and alternate locations must be found for guests in need.

Tracey has been the program director at Maureen's Haven for just two months and — although she has a long history of working with non-profit organizations — she said she has a "wait and see attitude" before making any major changes to the program.

"My philosophy has been, for now, that I would rather learn from the experts and observe," she said. "I'm still getting to know everyone."

Tracey has been listening to the concerns of long-time volunteers, staff members and host churches to get ideas on how to improve the shelter program. As a result, she has initiated some training programs and is working on new ways to improve communication between coordinators and volunteers.

Regardless of how many changes are made, she admits that the domino effect of a crippled economy is likely going to make this winter one of the busiest for Maureen's Heaven.

"No matter what people say on TV, it's just not true; the funding that nonprofits have relied on has been terminated; the money that is necessary for transportation, gas, and salary for additional persons is gone," Lutz said. "Now that it is happening on the state and federal level, across the board, nonprofits are losing support and it's keeping people on the fringe. We are seeing people that are requesting services for the first time. I don't see anything getting better. "

John agrees.

"If it wasn't for Maureen's Haven, then a lot of people on the streets would freeze to death," he said. "It's sickening that, as a country, we open our doors and our borders to everyone, but our own government can't help us."