Statistics compiled in the first three months of work by the new homeless case manager presented to both local governments Tuesday highlight the community’s need for further help in addressing homelessness.
Harry Pedigo, the executive director of the Daniel Pitino Shelter in Owensboro, presented the findings compiled by Melissa Collier, the homeless case manager, since she started in the summer.
The list Pedigo spoke about included:
- 83 homeless encounters
- 31 at-risk encounters
- 11 people were helped to obtain permanent housing
- 84 needed help with rental assistance
- 18 received help with rental assistance (totaling $25,169.25)
- 107 needed help with utility assistance
- 11 people were helped with utility assistance (totaling $6,548.09)
Pedigo said 66 people didn’t get help with rental assistance, an unmet need that totals $41,213.39. He said 92 people didn’t get help with utility assistance, an unmet need that totals $39,438.63.
He said the unmet needs in the area were $80,652.02. And that’s just for the first three months that Collier has been on the job.
Pedigo was speaking because Collier’s position falls under the direction and leadership of the Daniel Pitino Shelter in Owensboro. Her salary is funded by grants provided by both the Henderson County Fiscal Court and Henderson City Commission.
Although Collier made contact with 83 different people who are considered homeless, Pedigo said that the bulk of her work had been in trying “to keep people in their homes.”
He said the more than $30,000 given out to help with rental and utility assistance came from funding that the Daniel Pitino Shelter had secured from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, funding that can be used throughout the Green River Area Development District.
The money ran out at $32,000 locally, but $80,000 more was needed, he said.
Pedigo said that Collier and other officials are just scratching the surface in understanding the homeless issue in Henderson, though he did say, “It’s a very big need.” He said he doesn’t yet have an estimate of the number of homeless people in the county.
In other work by Collier, Pedigo said three veterans were assisted, seven substance abuse referrals were made, five mental health referrals were made and 10 employment referrals to Voc-Rehab were made. Collier also assisted with assisting seven people in obtaining an identification card, 25 people in obtaining a birth certificate and five people in obtaining Social Security cards. She assisted in seven SNAP/Medicaid applications.