“I get the phone calls constantly, all the time, from ‘I don’t know where to go’ to ‘Me and my children are sleeping in our car,'” said Teresa Boscarino, executive director of the Abundant Life Mission shelter in Menominee. “… People are in crisis, they’re not thinking properly, they need help and guidance, they need food and shelter and what we have is not enough.”

For National Homeless Awareness Month, the Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Community Action Agency recently hosted a Lunch & Learn event at the Escanaba Civic Center to highlight what can lead to homelessness, what’s available to address the problem in the region and what more can be done.

Speakers included MDSCAA Executive Director Gary Willoughby, MDSCAA Director of Homeless Services Matalyn Thibeault, MDSCAA Homeless Street Outreach Worker Kim Strom, author Dana Longpre and Boscarino.

Menominee, Delta and Schoolcraft counties had 263 individuals and families in the past year who experienced homelessness, Thibeault said. “Homelessness is largely an economic issue — 28% of Michigan renters have extremely low income, and most of them are spending half of their income on rent and have to make tough decisions on necessities,” Thibeault said.

During the Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Community Action Agency's recent Lunch & Learn event, Director of Homeless Services Matalyn Thibeault provided information on the local homeless population and services available. The agency's event took place in conjunction with National Homeless Awareness Month. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

The Homeless Assistance Program can help in several ways, she said. They can aid in securing vital documents, such as birth certificates and state IDs, which are important for acquiring housing. The agency also opened a new Master Leasing Program in which they can provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families-eligible households — families with children — with temporary shelter in two units they lease.

Strom, MDSCAA homeless street outreach worker, discussed their clients’ personal experiences in homelessness by reading some anonymous emails addressed to the agency.

“I’ve been homeless on and off for most of my life, so my mentality is stuck in homelessness. I carry everything with me just in case. Even though I found housing, I have a range of emotions from joy to sadness to disbelief. I even asked my new landlord to pinch me so I would know it was real,” one wrote.

Guest speaker Longre spoke about her experiences with homelessness and her book, “In a Van Down by the River: and Other Adventures of a Born Again Aspie.”

Longpre said she dealt with homelessness when her family began to unravel after a move to Alaska. She now talks about what happened to her to emphasize learning the reasons behind what leads to homelessness, to better address the issue.

The Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Community Action Agency hosted author Dana Longpre as guest speaker for the recent Lunch & Learn event on homeless awareness. Longpre spoke about her life story, experiences in homelessness and her book, “In a Van Down by the River: and Other Adventures of a Born Again Aspie.” (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

“When you see people on the side of the road, remember their story matters,” Longpre said. “They have a back story, and I would say, in my opinion – and I always talk to these people, because I was one of them – I always say, ‘Tell me your story.’ That’s what I want you to remember from my story today.”

MDSCAA offers other resources as well, such as the Rapid Rehousing program, which has short- to medium-term rental assistance to those who are category one, or “literally homeless.” Their Emergency Shelter Program provides individuals and families brief motel stays to those requiring emergency shelter. Spaces for these programs are limited and are prioritized based on need determined through assessment.

The agency also can refer people needing help to sites like the Abundant Life Mission, a 24-hour emergency homeless shelter in Menominee that has the capacity to host 88 individuals in their separate men’s dorm, women’s dorm and family rooms.

Boscarino noted they are always looking for volunteers and donations, which can be dropped off as well at the MDSCAA center’s main office, 507 First Ave. N. in Escanaba, where they will transfer them to the Menominee shelter.

Faith Sandahl, who works as a case manager in Lutheran Social Services for Schoolcraft, Delta and Menominee counties, spoke on the Superior Futures for Youth program. It serves those ages 12 to 24 who are either homeless or are at risk for homelessness. Sandahl works closely with schools so they can refer children and their families.

A key factor in dealing with those experiencing homelessness is listening to them with empathy, Willoughby said.

“No story is exactly the same story. You could have a great upbringing and still struggle,” Willoughby said. “Some folks, a lot of us grew up pretty modestly, ourselves, and have been that close (to homelessness), myself included. One more crisis and I would’ve been there. I’ve had family members on my couch before as well, that needed that for a couple of months, and you have to be able to be empathic and try and offer that support and just know, we are not guaranteed our jobs, our future, our health, any of those things. Lots of things can sneak into our lives and knock us down a peg or two, and we’ve got to be there for each other and support them.”

MDSCAA is in the middle of its Homeless Awareness Month Donation Drive. Items needed include all-purpose cleaner, bleach, garbage bags (13, 45, 55 gallons), gloves (adult and children), hand warmers, neck warmers, sleeping bags, hygiene kits (travel-sized toiletries), socks and backpacks.

Donations can be dropped off at the agency, 507 First Ave. N. in Escanaba, through Nov. 30.