There was a 12% increase in homelessness statewide, it was reported in a recent HUD report, bringing the total number of homeless individuals in the state to over 14,000. With the rising price of housing in State College going up 2.7% according to zillow , that number is bound to increase.
It doesn’t help that places like Out Of The Cold, which has the largest shelter in town, have waiting lists. Out of the cold specifically have had a waiting list for five consecutive years of anywhere between 20 and 60 people. Along with the fact that Out Of The Cold sees the most diverse crowd of people.
Kendra Gettig, the Board of Directors president for Out Of The Cold , when asked what she thinks the problems with our community respond saying that she believes that it is affordable housing,along with understanding employers .
“I think there is a lack of affordable housing,” Gettig said.I also think a lot of the people that we see that are homeless, have some form of criminal background. And a lot of them are very minor. So, like they stole something or a trespassing charge, like if they were sleeping somewhere, they weren’t allowed to be, but once you have a criminal background, it makes that much harder to get a job, and it makes that much harder to find an apartment.”
Along with this Gettig also adds.
“So, I think in addition to more affordable housing. I think we need employers and landlords and property managers that are more understanding of people with criminal backgrounds and mental mental illness,” Gettig said.
Simply going on Zillow and look at just one bedroom apartments the cheapest one is $780, if you look at the 2 bed it’s $1,525. This is the cheapest apartment and that’s just to rent it.
Jennifer Pencek, the executive director of CenterSafe agrees.
“The lack of affordable housing. I think that’s it. That’s the top one, because whether it’s a single person, a young person, an older person, a family, whatever. If you can’t find housing that you can actually afford, you’re going to be homeless potentially. So, I would say the lack of affordable housing is really critical.”
Even though housing is the main problem, it should be made clear that just because they can’t afford it doesn’t mean that they aren’t working or that they don’t have a job.
“There’s a huge homeless population but the people who are subject to it have a steady income, “ says Shaquan Wright, the Case Manager for Out Of The Cold .
“I think it’s really easy for people to think that, um. That people who are homeless are lazy, and they just sit around. But like I just said, 80% of our people have some form of income. If, unless a person has a disability, we do have a few people that get Social Security disability, but the vast majority of the people at the shelter are working,” Gettig said.
This really shows how willing the homeless community in state college is willing to work and keep trying no matter how hard it may seem.
