Homelessness an overwhelming issue in EL
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EAST LIVERPOOL -- For JD Mason, homelessness is all he has known. He has been homeless on and off for more than 20 years, surviving the best he can.
There are many nights he stays up all night walking because he can't find a place to sleep, or he can't sleep because it's raining or cold.
Mason said he doesn't rely on anybody -- there is something wrong with him and he has nobody. He said he has tried to find housing but when he goes for help, they always find something wrong such as medical issues or no identification.
Mason was originally from Texas and came to East Liverpool with his mother, who was returning to her hometown. He said since then he has lost most of his family.
"It's hard," Mason said.
Carol McClellan has been homeless before and is in danger of being homeless again. She noted that her son is also homeless and sleeping in his car because he hurt his back at work and can't afford rent.
"It's hard out here when you're homeless, especially being a woman. It's scary at nighttime," McClellan said.
She said she will put a tarp up around an opening in an abandoned building to keep warm.
She ended up homeless after leaving her husband in Indiana and coming home to East Liverpool after her oldest son committed suicide.
"I just wanted to come home," she said.
After walking the streets for a couple of months, staying wherever she could deal with pouring down rain and being scared when it got dark, she ended up going through rehabilitation and getting help to get housing.
She says now she can't afford her rent and is looking at being evicted and becoming homeless again.
She gets $900 a month to live on through social security because she was diagnosed as a bi-polar maniac, and she doesn't know how to manage money. Someone else has always done it for her. She said her income just isn't enough to pay for her gas, electricity, rent, and to buy food and hygiene projects.
"There are many of us out here like that," McClellan said. "It's rough and it's hard especially when you don't even have a dime."
She also said if given a dollar she would buy a beer to calm her nerves because she would rather calm her nerves than to eat. This is after years of sobriety.
McClellan and Mason are just two of the estimated 150 to 200 homeless people in East Liverpool.
Sheryl Garner, who operates the ministry Love You Neighbor with her husband Mike, noted that there are a lot of homeless families. She said people don't realize they are there because they stay hidden for fear of losing their children.
Candy Faloon of the United Way said she knows there is no solution for the homeless problem and the spike in the number of homeless people in East Liverpool, but she hopes to find some answers as to why the increase in numbers and find a way to make people aware the problem exists. She said she also hopes to educate the community on the issue of homelessness.
"I think if you don't live downtown or work downtown, then people aren't aware of this homeless situation here," Faloon said. "I talk to people and say I've been doing this or giving that for homeless people, and I get asked, really are there homeless people. I think if you aren't right here to see it then a lot of people aren't aware."
Sheryl Garner said she believes the problem has been here for some time, but it hasn't been realized. It has grown and become more prevalent lately.
Mike Garner said a lot of people don't want to admit to having a homeless problem in their hometown, but homelessness is an issue everywhere all across the country.
"I have lived here in East Liverpool just about all my life and I never ever thought I would see what I'm seeing. It's just very surprising to me and I have to wonder why there are so many," Faloon said. "I have seen homeless people going through the dumpsters and couldn't believe it. I was really shocked and upset to see that happening here. It's heartbreaking."
Faloon noted that she has been told the reason there are so many homeless people in the area is because they are being brought in from larger cities such as Youngstown and Pittsburgh and being dumped in East Liverpool.
Multiple other sources have voiced the same opinion.
"This past summer I would ask a lot of them where they are from and there were many that said they were from Youngstown or Pittsburgh," Faloon said. "I think that is part of the problem, people are dumping them here."
Bert Guy, an East Liverpool resident, said he wants to educate the community about the homeless problem since he has spoken to many people who don't believe homelessness is an issue in the area and many who have misconceptions about the homeless.
Guy said there are people who believe that all homeless are mentally ill and dangerous and he wants people to know that while some are, there are also many people who have houses who are mentally ill and dangerous. He noted that the averages were really close.
"My biggest concern is helping the needy, but I need to get the community educated on the homeless people, so they are better informed and know what the homeless are going through," Guy said. "I have talked to plenty of people who say they don't feel sorry for the homeless because it's their fault they are homeless because they don't want to work."
Guy went on to say that is not always the situation, that yes, there are some homeless who don't want to work, but there are also a lot of people living in houses that also don't want to work.
He also noted that it can often be difficult for a homeless person to get a job these days because many businesses require applicants to have a permanent address to be hired, so a homeless person without an address who wants to work often has a difficult time finding a job.
Guy said that he has walked all across the town and got to know a lot of the homeless people and has managed to earn their trust, which is hard to do because one of the first things a homeless person loses is their ability to trust in mankind. He noted that from what he has been gathering there are approximately 150 to 160 homeless people in the area right now, which is a lot for a city the size of East Liverpool
Guy is asking if people see a homeless person to not ignore them but to see if there is something they need. He advised against giving money in case they are an addict but getting them a sandwich or a cup of coffee could let them know that someone sees them as being human.
Faloon said there have been times she has seen a homeless person and bought them lunch and she tells homeless people she sees about the United Way and offers what assistance she can.
The United Way does not give out cash and doesn't keep any cash in the office, but Faloon is able to hand out coats or blankets when they have some and direct people to agencies that can provide them with food.
Faloon said her concern now is the weather because it is getting cold. She said it keeps her awake at night thinking they are out there at night in that cold weather.
Faloon is requesting donations of blankets, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and hand and feet warmers that the United Way can distribute to the homeless in need. The agency has given out approximately 50 blankets recently.
Mike Garner said Love Your Neighbor also distributes blankets, coats, hoodies and pantry boxes with food and hygiene items. He also goes out and travels around to talk to the homeless and let them know they can come into the ministry to get warm.
He also noted his concern about the danger to the homeless people in the area. He said he talked to and saw some who were beat up after someone posted a photo of them and the location they were staying at online. He said he has seen the aftermath of it, and they don't report it to the police because they are afraid.
Mayor-elect Bobby Smith and Fire Chief Bill Jones, who will soon be sworn in as safety/service director, plan to meet with United Way and other organizations involved with working with the homeless after they both take office to see what possible solutions there are to help with the homelessness in East Liverpool.
Police Chief John Lane could not be reached for comments on this story.
kgarabrandt@mojonews.com