THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240167
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
It's not just single men with drug and alcohol abuse problems that are homeless. That's a stereotypical view of the homeless, according to a group confronting the problem.
In fact, they say, women and children - even entire families - are part of Virginia Beach's burgeoning homeless population.
To address the needs of this diverse group, planners have put at the top of their ``wish list'' a 24-hour service center that would accommodate as many as 100 by night and convert to office space by day. Counselors there could help the homeless work toward self-sufficiency and link them with other groups already working on their behalf.
The planners are members of a subcommittee charged with developing a homeless programming proposal for $800,000 in federal grant money. They generally agree on the center concept and have only details to work out before making recommendations to the full Homeless Advisory Committee.
Subcommittee members say that those using the center would be able to stay indefinitely, as long as they participated in programs designed to help them overcome obstacles to self-sufficiency, such as education, job training and substance abuse programs.
Subcommittee members say the city's homeless problem is growing.
Deborah Maloney, who runs a five-year-old winter shelter program for Volunteers of America, said more people this year have made use of the program, although they haven't had to turn anyone away.
Judy Schorr of Samaritan House, however, said she says no to ``10 or 12 a day'' who want to stay at the battered women's shelter.
In the VOA-run winter shelter program, churches provide beds on a rotating basis for a week at a time. But it operates only during the winter.
Subcommittee members also agree that the homeless center they envision must offer help for substance abusers.
Karen Mallem, a member of the subcommittee and director of Community Alternatives Inc., cited statistics showing that 58 percent of the nation's homeless have substance abuse problems.
Maloney said that the local picture reflects those numbers. Roughly half of the homeless she shelters are substance abusers, and there is not enough help available for them, she said.
Planners are optimistic, however, about making inroads into the homeless problem.
At least 20 to 25 percent of Virginia Beach's homeless would likely find jobs and move out of shelters in a short time with just a little help, said Maloney. And another 65 to 70 percent would probably become self-sufficient within two to five years with intensive counseling, education and substance abuse training, she said.
The remaining 5 to 15 percent of the homeless population may be chronic, according to several care providers on the committee.
Support from the city's social services systems would be critical to the success of the homeless center, said Mallem.
The plan would end the church rotation system - something many have urged - but planners say continued church involvement would remain an important part.
Parishioners might, it was suggested, continue to provide evening meals and companionship for the homeless at the proposed center instead of in church halls.
The full Homeless Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday to hear reports from the site and program subcommittees.
The group must have a plan ready to take to the City Council by July 4.
KEYWORDS: HOMELESS INDIGENT by CNB