Samaritan Inn Report - February 3, 2009

Posted by Marc A. Sparks in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX on Feb 05, 2009

Collin County's only homeless shelter

The Director's Report

Week 5/2009 February 3, 2009

There are 113 people living at The Samaritan Inn, 35 are children.

Weekly Statistics:

Intakes: 9

Exits: 3

Graduates: 1

Program Notes

Every year HUD mandates that a homeless count be done. The count is conducted by the Dallas Homeless Alliance and typically focuses only on the chronically homeless, so the numbers for Collin County are typically very low and completely misleading. This year the count will appropriately include people living in shelters, transitional living programs like Gateway, long term hotels and 'couch surfers', those people who move from friend to friend. Given this, we expect this year's numbers to be far more accurate.

Thanks to Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church for their recent food drive!

Gateway opened last April and today it is full! It took some time because we chose potential residents very carefully, but with every apartment now occupied it has truly become a small community of its own.

I was looking at our census today and was amazed to see some interesting cities of origin for our residents. As you may know, Collin County residents always take precedence, because of the funding we receive from several Collin County cities, but when there is a bed available and no other takers, we will admit anyone who meets our admission criteria. Our current residents are from McKinney, Plano, Princeton, Wylie, Allen, Anna, The Colony, Arlington, Denton, Denison, Dallas, Framers Branch and Chicago, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs and Laguna Hills, California.

Story of the Week

Ann, 40 years old, and her 15 year old daughter came to the Inn on January 15th after she lost her job and was unable to pay her rent. Ann is aggressively looking for a new job but it is difficult because of her daughter. Ann must find a job that coincides with her daughter's school hours because her daughter is autistic and appropriate before and after school care is very difficult to find. Fortunately Ann has Medicaid for her daughter and she receives disability. Ann's caseworker is sensitive to this special employment need and our Vocational Counselor is seeking opportunities within the school district.