Chronic homelessness

Chronic homelessness – defined as a year or more without adequate shelter or three incidences over the course of four years – is on the rise in Baltimore according to the Baltimore Department of Health, and it means more than just sleeping on park benches. GEDCO’s permanent housing for the formerly homeless addresses the profound cyclical effects of prolonged displacement, including malnourishment, job insecurity, harmful survival patterns, and alienation. Men and women at GEDCO houses are taking back their independence because they’re getting the stability, training, accountability, and time they need.

What causes a person to become and stay homeless?

Poverty is the greatest risk factor for becoming homeless. Consider that when a person is being stretched to their economic limits, it’s very easy to be pushed over the edge where someone of a moderate income might recover: Substance abuse, mental illness, death or illness in the family and job loss are a few “pushes.” In addition, there are systemic conditions at play, such as poor education on budgeting and money management, lack of affordable housing, the discrepancy between minimum wage and housing wage (about $13.00 an hour in Baltimore) and a lack of jobs in a knowledge-based economy for those with a high school diploma or less.

What effects does homelessness have on a person?

“Chronic homelessness affects the entire being mentally, physically and emotionally,” writes one GEDCO program staff. Illness is often brought on or exacerbated by life on the streets where it proves a special challenge to maintain a healthy diet or medication schedule due to theft and sparse storage. Access to services becomes difficult when sleeping outside means you can be arrested for loitering or trespassing, leading to a criminal record. Emotional and psychological traumas build up as an individual loses their sense of self-esteem and agency, and becomes increasingly alienated from the general population.

How is long term housing different?

Temporary shelters are certainly necessary, but cannot counter the effects of homelessness and help an individual get on the road to wellness and stability. Homelessness has not ended in a shelter because a person will still need to seek housing tomorrow night. When the formerly homeless enter a long-term or permanent house with supportive services, such as the GEDCO programs, the stability of having a home and address enable them to make progress in finances, job skills, employment, health and sobriety. In short, because the search for their most basic needs is over, they can begin to develop themselves more fully.

What progress does an individual make in long-term housing?

At GEDCO houses like Micah House and Harford House, residents learn to access and maintain savings accounts, jobs, government services, volunteer opportunities, health insurance, and appropriate treatments for serious illness. They begin to pay rent on time, to keep an updated resume, and re-learn self determination by participating in house meetings, progressing along a set of Individual Goals and becoming active in sober, healthy lifestyles. Many residents upon graduation from the program are able to move into an independent house while program staff check in to monitor their continued progress.