By Marilyn Miller
When an article about a “homeless shelter” existing in the woods near the Minden High School girls’ softball complex on Clerk Street appeared in the Webster Parish Journal recently, it touched the hearts of many area citizens.
D McCoy and a handful of others decided to find out who else was concerned and what could be done to help the Minden Police Dept. and City of Minden with the challenge. When a “word of mouth” meeting at the Webster Parish Library outgrew the initial meeting space, a bigger room was quickly arranged.
“Thank you for being here,” McCoy, a member of Women of Courage, said, welcoming the standing-room-only crowd to the Friday, Sept. 26 gathering. “It’s obvious so many of us care. And the goal of this meeting is to find like-minded individuals who want to help.”
The fact-finding meeting included discussions directed at “who the homeless people are,” “why they are in the situations they are in,” “what our community needs as far as living facilities (shelter),” and more.
McCoy introduced Minden Police Chief Jarred McIver, who briefed the crowd on the Clerk Street shelter, which was removed because occupants were “wandering onto the ball field and scaring the girls who were practicing softball.”
“We have several encampments right now,” Chief McIver said. “There is one behind Walmart, one near Heavenly Treasures on Shreveport Road, behind the old Spiller’s, one on Pine Street and one on the service road. Of course, the encampments can be there one day and gone the next.
“Also, you don’t see the homeless during the day, they walk around during the night. It’s not a large number, but we have some. I don’t think they are a danger to the public. They move around…they dumpster dive…there are just so many scenarios. But there is a lot of trash…all over the woods,” he continued.
Chief McIver said that he got a particular call from a woman who is not on the street, but is “about to be out.” She has two children and wants to work. She moved to Minden from California (a domestic abuse case). The chief “got her some gas” and the Minden Police Association put the family up in a local motel, then “took the kids to eat.”
“She said she wants her kids to go to school here (in Doyline),” Chief McIver said, “She’s courageous, but tough. That’s where we are…the Minden Police Dept. wants to help…people like this woman with two children, who has a dire need. Sheriff (Jason) Parker has said he wants to help, too.”
Oreata Banks, Federal Programs Supervisor for the Webster Parish School Board, said she is aware of the family, who she says is in “survival mode. “They have been through the Providence House, the Salvation Army…but because of the age of the son (17) they could not all stay together. We’ve been helping them (with food and other provisions). What we cannot do is housing.”
Ms. Banks said the WPSB can help in many ways, but people with needs must come in and tell them their needs. “We’re not judging them…not interrogating. We just have to perform a needs assessment.”
Tommy Davis, who works with UCAP, noted that “there are more (people with needs) out there than we think. We coordinate everything with law enforcement. It’s important to coordinate, because some people will work the system.”
“Today is fact-finding day,” McCoy said after much audience discussion. “There are so many organizations we don’t know about…we just learned about some earlier this month. We need a ‘connection’ list. I had no idea the Webster Parish School Board was doing (what they do).”
Ms. Banks advised those wanting to help the homeless to call the counselor at any Webster Parish School or to call her office at the WPSB Office. “It’s the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act that authorizes school boards to help children and youth,” she pointed out.
Many homeless problems can be blamed on alcohol and drugs, the crowd agreed. McCoy mentioned a “faith-based” facility in Bastrop that takes people from 18 to 80. “Freedom Challenge” is free, she emphasized.
The meeting ended with a promise of another one, and with an assurance that a contact list would be sent out to those attendees who registered.
“It takes stepping up,” McCoy said. “And today is contact day Number One. Today is not answer day. It takes every single one of us to take care of the person next to us.”
