Category: articles

Hunger and Homelessness: The Causes and Cures
By Elisabeth Duarte

Oct., 2019; Brunswick County, NC–There is a common misconception that people become homeless as a result of mismanaging money, making poor decisions, or through drug or alcohol abuse. While some of these factors can contribute to homelessness, none of them are the sole cause of it.

Guests at the 2018 banquet discuss solutions specific to Brunswick County, NC

What the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition, a private nonprofit 501(c)3, and a staff of volunteers that assists people in Brunswick County, North Carolina, has observed, is that many people may be just one event away from becoming homeless. Many of these events are beyond one’s control, like natural disasters such as hurricanes or floods, to more mundane things such as unexpected illness, or injury or losing a job, that can take us from safe and secure to hungry and homeless.

For Jose Ruiz, for example, it was when he and his pregnant wife, Suzie, discovered black mold in their rented double-wide mobile home in the spring of 2019. This was the event that caused them and their five-year-old son, and unborn child to become homeless. Their landlord wasn’t able to eradicate the mold, and they couldn’t stay in the house as it was, so they called the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition’s 888 number (1-888-519-5362) and filled out an intake form over the phone with a volunteer. They were placed in a motel for several days until they could secure other housing.

Stephanie Bowen, Executive Director for Brunswick Family Assistance Agency, at the 2017 Hunger and Homeless Banquet. Photo Credit: Jessica J, BCHC

For Veronica and her two preschool age children, the event was a tornado that preceded Hurricane Dorian that took the roof right off their rented mobile home, and the rain that followed that destroyed the home’s contents. The family was forced to relocate. But where would they go? Veronica called the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition’s 888 line and a volunteer arranged for short-term emergency shelter while she considered her options.

A third request was from a family of five, a single mom and her four children, whose air conditioner unit had quit working and their single wide trailer was unbearably hot without the window unit working. The Brunswick County Homeless Coalition discussed it at their monthly meeting, took up a collection and Paul Witmer, BCHC’s Veteran Advocate and Joe Staton, President, purchased a unit and Joe personally installed it with the help of a neighbor.

Joe Staton, President, Brunswick County Homeless Coalition, works this past summer to install an air conditioner for a client family in Supply, NC. Photo credit: Elisabeth D., BCHC

Many calls that come in are requests for help with rent or power bills which allows tenants to stay in their existing homes. “The Coalition’s goal is to keep people in safe, stable, permanent housing where possible or to help them find it if necessary”, says Staton.

Left: Barbara Serafin and Betsy Duarte work to prepare the soup line for the Seventh Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon in Shallotte, NC. Photo Credit: Kate P., BCHC; Right: Volunteers serve homemade soups to those attending the Sixth Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon in Leland, NC. Photo Credit: Jessica J., BCHC

Stephanie Bowen, Executive Director of Brunswick Family Assistance, said that with a budget of $70,000 and a huge volunteer effort , she was able to distribute water, food, and clothing to those in need in a county hard hit by Hurricane Florence. Ms. Bowen says she could “never have accomplished this mammoth task without the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers throughout the county.”

Ms. Bowen will be the keynote speaker at the 8th Annual Hunger & Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon at the Brunswick Center at Calabash on Saturday, November 16th from 10:00 am – 2:00 p.m.

The Rotary Club of Shallotte is sponsoring the event this year.

Please come out to learn more about bringing volunteers and donations together to help solve a serious problem in Brunswick County.

October, 2018 is drawing to a close, and the November 10th, 2018 Seventh Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon is almost here.

This page contains some promotional materials that you can use to help spread the word.

PRINTED & PRINTABLES

Hear and Learn Flyer 8.5 x 11" PDF Format

Hear and Learn Flyer 2-up 8.5 x 11" PDF Format

AUDIOVISUAL

Youtube video, 60-second presentation: https://youtu.be/gFq99jK6KfA
Youtube video, 30-second radio PSA: https://youtu.be/WUlG26lQoBI

Radio PSA, 30 seconds, 320kbit MP3, 1.2MB: 7th-hh-30sec-radio-spot-BCHC.mp3

Radio PSA, 30 seconds, WAV format, 5.3MB: 7th-hh-30sec-radio-spot-BCHC.wav

FACEBOOK

If you use Facebook, you can click on the following link to share the Seventh Hunger and Homeless Banquet page to Facebook: Facebook Share/BCHC/Seventh H&H Banquet

WORD OF MOUTH

Invite your friends, influential people, random strangers, and anyone else you can think of. Remember to tell them to go to brunswick homeless dot com to register online.

Information comes from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received approval to help people buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) program in 27 counties that were declared a federal disaster after the storm. In Brunswick County, you should apply in person at Odell Williamson Auditorium between Sept. 28th and Oct. 6th, 2018. (9/28 8:30am-5pm, 9/29 9am-5pm, and 10/1 through 10/6 9am-5pm).

More Storm Information
More storm recovery information is available on the following page: brunswickhomeless.com/florence-recovery/

D-SNAP/Emergency Food Stamps: Eligibility

To be eligible, people must:

• Live in one of these counties: Bladen, Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, New Hanover, Moore, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson. (Other counties may be added later.)
• Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Florence, such as damage to property, loss of income or food loss.
• Have proof of identity and proof of residency (if available).
• Have income and resources below certain levels.
• Not currently be receiving help buying food through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program.

Note: Those already receiving FNS can also get extra help buying food, but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. Your additional benefits should appear on your card by Thursday, September 27th, 2018.

Amount
The assistance amount depends on household size, but a family of one would receive $192, a family of four would receive $640, and larger families would receive more.

Application information
The application window is Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, through Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. All application sites will be closed Sunday, Sept. 30. People who want to apply for help buying food must do so in person. People are encouraged to apply in the county they live in, but can apply in person in any of the 27 counties, regardless of which county they live in. Expect wait times when you get to the office. Counties will do everything they can to process applications quickly, but many people are expected to apply.

Brunswick County applications will be received at Odell Williamson Auditorium/Brunswick Community College Main Campus, 50 College Road NE, Bolivia, NC 28422 according to the following schedule:

Fri., Sept. 28 … 8:30 – 5pm
Sat., Sept. 29 … 9-5pm
Mon., Oct 1 … 8:30-5pm
Tue., Oct 2 … 8:30-5pm
Wed., Oct 3 … 8:30-5pm
Thu., Oct 4 … 8:30-5pm
Fri., Oct 5 … 8:30-5pm
Sat., Oct 6 … 8:30-5pm

You can complete your application ahead of time and bring it with you if you want to. (English application, Spanish application). If you are eligible, you will receive your one-time debit card the same day you apply, so you will only need to visit the office once. You will be able to use your card to buy food within three days of receiving it. More information about what you need to bring with you to apply and how you can use your benefits to buy food is available in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

Source: www.ncdhhs.gov/after-hurricane-florence-help-buying-food, www.ncdhhs.gov/hurricane-florence-d-snap-locations

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition’s Direct Aid group today delivered a shipment of baby food, baby formula, diapers, and baby wipes (purchased new at local retailers) for the families staying in our temporary shelters.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and its effects on our area, Brunswick County’s storm shelters at the high schools stand in great need of supplies. Evacuees–people facing homelessness, whether chronic or temporary–some of whom have lost everything–are staying in these shelters as a last resort and are depending on us, their neighbors, for support.

Some of the identified needs:

• Blankets
• Towels
• Boys’ and Girls’ clothing
• Shoes (for kids and adults)
• Large size clothing for women (2x & 3x)
• Baby food, formula, and diapers

The central collection point for these items is the Brunswick Beacon office on Smith Ave. in Shallotte (around back). The collection point is staffed by Brunswick Family Assistance Agency employees and volunteers. For more detailed information, including exact needs and dropoff point hours of operation, you are encouraged to contact BFA in Shallotte at (910) 754-4766.

According to information supplied by Commissioner Frank Williams, Brunswick Family Assistance will serve as primary point of contact for groups and individuals wishing to help with storm recovery in Brunswick County.

Article source: http://www.commissionerfrankwilliams.com/brunswick-family-assistance-to-serve-as-primary-point-of-contact-for-groups-individuals-wishing-to-help-with-storm-recovery/

Quoting Commissioner Williams’ web site:

“Numerous organizations and individuals have inquired about how they can help Brunswick County residents impacted by Hurricane Florence. It is important that volunteer efforts be organized and coordinated to ensure that they help those in need, and it is important that donations be made to legitimate organizations.

“Brunswick Family Assistance will be the primary point of contact for those wishing to help.

“Individuals/Groups: If you or your group would like to provide assistance, please contact BFA at 910-754-4766 or brunswickfamily@yahoo.com. Donating goods: If you would like to donate goods, please contact BFA at 910-754-4766 or brunswickfamily@yahoo.com to ensure that the goods being donated meet citizens’ needs. Donating financially: If you would like to contribute financially, please visit BFA’s website.”