By Cynthia Germain
For those who find themselves literally homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless can find help through the Lakeshore Community Action Program. Whether a qualified individual or family needs a one-time payment to help prevent becoming homeless or longer term rental assistance and security deposit, a system of assistance is in place that includes access to financial help as well as case management to identify barriers to move towards self-sufficiency. Kate Markwardt, Supportive Housing Supervisor of the Lakeshore Community Action Program, says that the Homelessness Prevention program which provides a one-time rent payment has specific qualification criteria related to income and other factors.
For those at immediate risk for being homeless, the Lakeshore CAP can also provide up to 12 months of assistance with rent and utilities but has additional participation requirements. These programs also benefit landlords by reducing vacancy numbers, providing guaranteed rent payments and offering support with tenant conflict resolution.
This would do absolutely no good for someone who was tossed out on their ear without even a change of clothing. Ask me about it. It happened. A friend was, without warning, tossed out of the home she had been sharing with another family member. She was the hardest working woman I’ve known. She was so proud to be able to earn enough to pay her bills and had a little left over that after working for a few years could finally afford to purchase a car and provide her own transportation to and from work instead of always having to rely on others. She came to me for help. I have no extra room in my tiny house but I vowed I would do my best to help her. I worked tirelessly for hours trying to find some place to shelter her till she could gather her own thoughts and get some of her things. There was no help for her here in Door County. After hours, there is no help to be had. Weekends…no help. There was no one who answered a phone. I had friends see my desperate posts on facebook for ideas of where to go for help for her. Many of them offered financial assistance to put her up in a motel for the night. By that time, I could not find her. She had been waiting inside of one of the fast food restaurants where it was warm. By the time I had people offering, she was gone. She didn’t even have a phone to be able to help herself. The next day, she ended up moving to a homeless shelter in Green Bay where she was assisted to get back on her feet. She had to quit her full time job that she had held for several years because she could not afford to travel back and forth. Fortunately for her she was able to transfer to a sister facility in Green Bay and found employment. She is on her own now, but it was a horrific experience for her to go through. I can’t tell you how frustrating it was to have every door closed in my face while I was trying to help her. A couple days later a few of my phone calls were returned. By that time, she was gone to Green Bay.
What does a person do when they come home from work and are locked out of their home? Sometimes people have warnings issued to them. In her case there was nothing. if it is after hours, all facilities are closed. Are there numbers that can be called after hours, during the night, on weekends and holidays? Where do these people go when they find themselves in this situation?
Those are the answers we need to know so that if this would ever happen again no one has to sleep in a car in this or any kind of weather.