Homelessness: An Epidemic in Erie County
February 19th, 2013
Homelessness. It's an epidemic in Erie County. For those men, women and children living on the streets, the numbers are staggering, and the stories of their survival are heart wrenching.
Some resources may be available to the homeless, but with a limit on bed space, each and every day is a challenge just to safely lay your head down at night.
You probably do this without thinking - stereotyping the homeless as beggars - but that's not entirely the case.
Each homeless person has a different story and a reason as to why they ended up on the streets.
Kevin Womble Sr. has made his life as a homeless man. Once addicted to crack, Womble got off on the wrong foot and ended up in prison. To date, Womble lived in nearly 40 states.
Life on the streets is a struggle and sometimes you have to beg. After dinner, if you have one, comes the daunting task of finding shelter. Bed space at local shelters fills up quickly.
And living on the streets requires that you learn where to avoid.
The City Mission offers clean beds and showers, but those come with restrictions and that's something the adult homeless don't want any part of.
But at the City Mission, mission officials are trying their best to help the homeless.
Homelessness. It's an epidemic in Erie County. For those men, women and children living on the streets, the numbers are staggering, and the stories of their survival are heart wrenching.
Some resources may be available to the homeless, but with a limit on bed space, each and every day is a challenge just to safely lay your head down at night.
You probably do this without thinking - stereotyping the homeless as beggars - but that's not entirely the case.
Each homeless person has a different story and a reason as to why they ended up on the streets.
Kevin Womble Sr. has made his life as a homeless man. Once addicted to crack, Womble got off on the wrong foot and ended up in prison. To date, Womble lived in nearly 40 states.
Life on the streets is a struggle and sometimes you have to beg. After dinner, if you have one, comes the daunting task of finding shelter. Bed space at local shelters fills up quickly.
And living on the streets requires that you learn where to avoid.
The City Mission offers clean beds and showers, but those come with restrictions and that's something the adult homeless don't want any part of.
But at the City Mission, mission officials are trying their best to help the homeless.
