They are houseless – not homeless. The atmosphere at Habersham Homeless Ministries extends warmth and acceptance. It is a home for those who have found themselves in difficult situations. Like a home, it feels like all that it should feel – a haven, a place of refuge, a place to find rest, peace, and hope.
The encouragement echoes off the walls, in the halls, and onto the porch. As one of the residents was leaving for her job, several others called out, “Are you going to your new job?”
The smile on her face answered it all, “I am!”
How it started
Habersham Homeless Ministries (HHM) opened its doors to those who need help in 1999, and it has provided emergency thirty-day shelter for the homeless since that time. There is a maximum stay of 90 days. Their mission is to continue to do so for those in White and Habersham who find themselves without a house to live in.
During their time at HHM, residents learn to become self-sufficient through obtaining employment and a place to live. Classes are offered at Victory Baptist Church to teach life skills and finances. Through it all, they are given time to stop, breathe, regroup, and become restored.
Kay Miller, Director of Habersham Home Ministries, has been working to raise awareness about what is available for those in need and how people can help in the community.
“In October, the Department of Community Affairs took away a much-needed Federal Grant. We had been receiving two $25,000 grants. Now, we have to find a way to replace the funding,” Miller explained.
Federal Funding removed
The Federal Funding was removed because there are bigger needs in bigger cities, and funding must go with the greater need. Miller believes there is no greater need than right here in Habersham and White Counties.
Miller has been reaching out to organizations and churches for help. “We have enough operating capital until the end of May. On May 31st, I will have to notify my case managers that they will no longer be paid salaries and we can no longer take in homeless.”
Their occupancy is full right now. A navy veteran lives in one of the duplex apartments next to a single mom with a seven-year-old. In the all-women shelter, there are eight women, two on disability. A house has a single mom with three young children.
The stories behind the faces
The stories pull at the heart as the words roll off the mouths of those living them. A loss of a job, domestic violence, death of a spouse, illness, situations which can happen to anyone. Many of the people we see every day – behind a cash register or delivering fast food to our vehicles – are living in their cars or shelters, trying to find a way to pull themselves out of poverty.
The mission of HHM is to eliminate homelessness in Habersham and White Counties. “We have two programs to accomplish this – Homeless Prevention whereby we provide funds and direction to prevent eviction and/or loss of vital utilities or transportation and the Homeless Shelters for those who are already homeless,” Miller informed.
Two little girls who are currently living at the shelter were swinging in the swings one of the local churches built. Miller talked about several projects to be done by local churches and individuals to help make the location better. “I am so grateful for all the help,” Miller acknowledged, “But, we are in a situation where we have got to have funding.”
How to help
Habersham Homeless Ministries is asking for those in the community, businesses, churches, and non-profits who are willing, to commit to monthly donations to help maintain a steady flow of income. “We need to make up the shortfall of $50,000, necessary to maintain and operate three family shelters and two single women shelters.”
If you would like to take a tour of the HHM shelters, please contact Kay Miller at 262-995-4074.
To become a part of a caring team of churches, individuals, and businesses who believe that God can restore the broken to wholeness, please consider a one-time donation or a monthly contribution.
Together, those without houses in which to live can find answers to end the cycle of homelessness. It takes a community. Please become a solution.
