By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter
The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky summer assistance and shelter programs are in full swing, offering assistance to the region’s homeless.
Webb
The shower and laundry program provides access to basic hygiene, while the summer recovery program is aimed at getting the homeless into more permanent living arrangements.
The Emergency Shelter was founded in the winter of 2008 by concerned citizens and business owners over the growing problem of homelessness in the Northern Kentucky area. The shelter originally provided a safe space for the homeless during the colder winter months.
In the summer of 2010, the shelter began providing services for homeless men who were looking to improve their overall situations.
The shelter fills a void in Northern Kentucky and is unique in its operation. There are little or no other options that provide the same services for the homeless in the region.
Running from May 1 to October 31, the shower and laundry program operates Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants receive a clean shower and have their clothing laundered. Coffee and snacks are also provided.
Some people that utilize the shelter may not be entirely homeless however, their living accommodations don’t have running water or lack utilities. So, they must come to the shelter to take a shower or have their laundry done.
Last year, the shower and laundry program provided over 1,700 showers, and over 7,500 pieces of clothing were laundered.
Some of the services the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky provide include overnight accommodations, clothing, laundry facilities and food. It’s summer assistance program started May first and continue through the end of October (photos by David Kubota). Click to enlarge.
The Emergency Shelter also runs a summer recovery program. Exclusively for men, this program provides housing and access to services for the homeless, so they can effectively hold down jobs and find permanent housing.
Recent economic issues and the limitation of subsidized housing have led to an increase of homeless populations across the country. The lack of affordability in living arrangements in the Northern Kentucky area has contributed to the issue.
Kim Webb is the Executive Director of the Emergency Shelter and has been in the position for three years. She spoke about the unfortunate stereotypes that often impact the homeless.
“People make assumptions like most homeless individuals don’t have jobs,” Webb said, “but 29 of the 30 guys staying here right now do have jobs.”
In the program, men are expected to work and save seventy percent of what they make. They must also keep appointments and maintain sobriety. Around the shelter, they’re assigned house chores and taught soft skills that may better prepare them for life beyond the shelter.
“By providing the basic necessities, we allow that person to focus more on their job and family, which leads to them being more successful,” Webb said.
The program operates on a “housing first” approach to homelessness, based on the concept that once the individual has access to reliable housing, other aspects of their life will improve.
Webb hopes that the low barrier to entry will allow the shelter to provide to as many individuals as possible.
“If they’re able to walk in here on their own two feet, we are providing housing for that person,” Webb said. “If that person cannot walk in here on their own two feet, we’re calling an ambulance.”
A strong relationship with local healthcare providers ensures that the shelter is able to recommend proper services to those in need.
Logan Probst is a street outreach worker for the shelter and is also a social worker. She reaches out to those in need to make them aware of the services the shelter provides. Once in the shelter, she works with them to get them access to the care they need.
“I’m actively working with around 130 people right now,” Probst said. “I always try and be respectful of their decisions, if they don’t want our services, I respect that.”
Probst will often walk the streets of Northern Kentucky to search for those in need. She also receives calls from concerned citizens over the homeless in the area.
The Emergency Shelter operates on donated goods, such as coffee or shampoo. Donations from nearby schools and communities keep the shelter afloat.
“I have the best job because I get to see the best in people,” Webb said. “I see the best in those that donate to us and then I turn around and see those who are utilizing those donations to better themselves.”
To contact or donate to the Emergency Shelter, click here, or call 859-291-4555.
David Kubota is an intern at the NKyTribune and a student at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media. Contact him at david@nkytrib.com
