Homeless shelters struggle to keep people off streets

Approximately 465 people in Bloomington are homeless, and nearly 20 percent of them are unsheltered, according to the 2005 City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development Department consolidated plan. But just as the cost of living rises each year, the amount of federal funding to help the homeless drops. \nThe Community Development Block Grant the city received from the federal government this year was approximately 10.6 percent smaller than last year's grant. \nConsequently, when the city parceled out the money to social service agencies last month, two previous recipients of federal funds were denied aid and others were left short of what they had requested. Organizations like Middle Way House see their full shelters as evidence that the issue persists.\n"It seems like we're mostly full, and so is Martha's House," said Amy Harrison, executive assistant of Middle Way House. "It's an ongoing problem, and I don't know if it's a problem that's going to go away."\nStepping Stones is one of the Bloomington organizations for the homeless that was denied funding. Because it is a small and new organization, it is especially in need of grants. However, the Citizen Advisory Committees that recommended which organizations should receive the block grant funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development denied Stepping Stones' request of $20,000. The committees said the organization does not serve as many people as some of the other applicants. \nStepping Stones, said Executive Director Sheri Benham, provides transitional housing and supportive services to youth ages 16 to 20 years old who are experiencing homelessness. Since its start in August 2005, it has housed a total of 12 teens, serving only six at any given time.\nStepping Stones did receive a Department of Housing and Urban Development federal grant for $232,000 over the span of its first three years. After three years, it can apply for a new one. The grant covers rent, utilities and salaries, but the organization still has to raise $50,000 each year to cover operating expenses, insurance, office and residence supplies, activities for residents, travel and training. \nStepping Stones was hoping for the CDBG grant, allocating the $20,000 requested into its budget, but Benham felt the decision was fair considering the quality of the other agencies and the criteria of the CACs. Nonetheless, they have to readjust their budget.\nHowever, other grants are available, and Stepping Stones intends to apply for them.\n"There are other grants," said Dave Torneo, president of Stepping Stones and clinical coordinator for the Youth Services Bureau of Monroe County. "There are always grants out there, and you just have to step up your fundraising, and you always have to be realistic in what you have to do."\nDarrell Ann Stone, associate director of student activities at IU and co-chair for Homeward Bound, an annual Bloomington walk for the homeless, credits Bloomington's Housing and Neighborhood Development Department for fighting the problem of homelessness. HAND offers home-buyers classes and advising, and the housing task force is working to bring housing rates down.\n"At a base level as an issue of humanity it seems wrong to have residents in a community to not have a roof over their head," Stone said.\nHowever, the extent of the success of these efforts is yet to be seen, since the last survey conducted on the issue was in 2003. For now, local shelters remain full, and many still go unsheltered.\n"I was in a situation of homelessness, and I know there are people that are in a worse situation than I was in," said Cynthia Short, 18, a resident of Stepping Stones. "I just don't want anyone else to be in this type of situation, especially if (they're) young"