Each week, this series shares MarionMade! stories of our many wonderful people, places, products and programs in the greater Marion community. To read more positive stories of Marion, or to share some of your own, visit us at marionmade.org or on social media.
Rising costs of food, housing and utilities are pushing more local families out of their homes.
“If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, and your rent goes up $150 in three months, you are behind. You get an eviction notice and you don’t have the money to look for a new place because you don’t have first and last month’s rent and a deposit. All of a sudden, you’re living out of your car,” said Dana Martin, director of the Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter.
For 38 years, the Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter has provided emergency housing and wraparound services. Martin said many people may be surprised at the need.
“Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there,” Martin said. “There are a lot of families living in their cars right now. People aren’t making enough to make ends meet. Sometimes people get ill and can’t work for three months after surgery. They get an eviction notice while trying to recuperate through no fault of their own.”
Homelessness affects people of all ages.
“People would be surprised at how many children are coping with homelessness. Right now at the shelter, we have four children, one just a few months old,” Martin said. “There’s no discrimination when it comes to being homeless. You can be homeless at 18 years of age or 79 years old. There’s no gender discrimination. It can be situational. It can be also substance use and mental health.”
The shelter at 326 W. Fairground Street in Marion was built in 2006 and opened in 2007. It serves 28 people from Marion and five surrounding counties.
Martin encouraged people who are teetering on the brink to reach out to the shelter for help before they lose their housing.
“We do have community resources to help them stay in their homes,” Martin said. “If there is an eviction notice, we know who to contact to help you with back rent and get ahead.”
The shelter helps families put together a plan, whether it’s applying for help, securing childcare, finding a job or a landlord willing to rent to someone with a past eviction.
“If someone is homeless, it can be hard to get a job because they don’t have a shower, laundry or transportation,” Martin said. “Our bus system doesn’t run 24/7, so if someone is working second shift, you can’t get a ride home. You can imagine what it’s like walking home in the middle of the night when it’s 13 degrees.”
The shelter assesses 600 people in need annually. Last year, 211 people found safety there. Martin appreciates the support of community partners, volunteers and donors.
“We partner with the Boys & Girls Club to provide free memberships. Marion City Schools pick up children at the shelter so kids don’t have to change schools in addition to losing their homes,” Martin said.
While a grant provides 50% of the shelter’s funding, they have to provide the other half. Many residents arrive with just the clothes on their backs. While the shelter has a kitchen for residents, they struggle to keep the pantry stocked.
“We have regular volunteers from churches who drop a meal off every month or eat with residents,” Martin said. “Recently, we received $5,000 from the City of Marion to buy food when SNAP benefits were halted.”
Goodwill, Job & Family Services, Marion Matters, Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity and other groups work with residents for needs, including clothing or steel-toed boots for factory jobs or furniture for a new apartment.
“Our community is very supportive. That’s why it is important to me to know we exist and here’s what it looks like. The more people who understand it, the more people are on our team to help end it,” Martin said. “It does benefit the community as a whole.”
Martin appreciates the support of donors who drop off items or meals, donate or buy from the Amazon wish list, follow the shelter’s Facebook page or sign up for the Coldest Night of the Year 2K and 5K walk, coming up Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. at the Harding Hotel.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Homeless Shelter offers warmth as this week’s MarionMade
Reporting by Special to Marion Star, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
