Homeless Elders –

A Small Volunteer Effort Embraces A Growing Problem

By Jan Howard

Shelter of the Cross, a non-profit, non-denominational residential program for homeless men and women over age 58, was founded in 1993 by a social worker who recognized there was a need that was not being met. The program may be one of a kind.

“It is a unique program,” its founder and director, Karen Messina, said recently. “It is the only one addressing this issue in the state.” She said she is trying to determine if other programs resembling it exist in other states.

“We would like to set ourselves as a model program to be replicated elsewhere,” she said. “It works very well.”

Ms Messina had worked with the homeless as a social worker beginning in 1991. It was during that time that she recognized there was no program to deal with the needs of elderly homeless people.

“Our population is aging, but there is no housing available,” Ms Messina said. “More has to be done to build affordable housing.”

A 78-year-old woman, Ruth, was Ms Messina’s inspiration. “Ruth was legally blind, had no family, and was on the streets, ” she said. “I saw her walking on the street one night when it was sleeting and very cold. She had nowhere to go. I took her home with me, but I knew I had to do more.”

Three years ago that goal became a reality when Shelter of the Cross opened the doors of its residential home to its first residents. Since then, the home, located on Cherry Street in Danbury, has served as a temporary home for 23 men and women who otherwise would have remained homeless. It can house up to six people at a time for a period up to two years.

“We received 103 referrals,” Ms Messina said. “There were quite a few we were unable to help.”

“The number of elderly homeless is growing, but is widely unrecognized,” she said. “It is a tremendous issue that is growing. People don’t recognize it as an issue. Our goal is to identify it exists and bring help to these people.”

Referrals are received from town social workers, soup kitchens, nursing homes, realtors, police, shelters, other homeless people, churches, and self-referrals, she said.

Its goals include helping homeless people into permanent, independent housing within two years. During their temporary stay at the Cherry Street home, the residents receive information on or referral to needed services and entitlements that will make it possible for them to live independently. They receive professional help from professionals and volunteers in regard to specific needs, such as financial, psychological, medical, legal, vocational, and social. After residents move into permanent housing, they are provided with follow-up services for a period of 18 months.

Prospective residents must be 58 years and older; homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless; not a danger to themselves or others; willing to comply with all program requirements; and capable of living independently within a maximum time of two years.

The average stay at Shelter of the Cross is about eight months, Ms Messina said. While most of its graduates move into subsidized housing in Danbury, “We can get creative in placing people when necessary,” she added.

The first graduate of the home was a woman from Newtown who had lived as a companion to a couple. After the couple died, the family turned her out with no seed money.

Ms Messina said the elderly homeless often have severe medical needs. “When they are homeless, they are in crisis. They’re not thinking of long-term needs. I knew there would be severe medical conditions to address.”

Nurses from the Visiting Nurse Association visit the home seven days a week, twice a day, she said. “That’s one indication of the severity of health needs residents have when they move in. It still exists.”

Shelter of the Cross is not an emergency house, she explained. “They have to apply to an admitting committee. There is a time lapse between a transition out and someone coming in.”

Shelter of the Cross uses all community resources and programs available to it, Ms Messina said, including mental health services, medical clinics, and other resources.

Ms Messina has been the only staff member until recently, when Shelter of the Cross was awarded a grant for $20,000 that made it possible to hire a part-time counselor/case manager. The addition of this staff member will make it possible to reach out to former residents who have moved into permanent housing in the community. Previously, volunteers provided the follow-up, but as the number of graduates increased, a part-time employee was needed, she said.

“It’s exciting for me to work with additional staff. It provides outreach that was not in place before,” Ms Messina said. She noted she still needs some additional hours, either to increase the current employee’s hours or to add another part-time staff member.

Ms Messina said Shelter of the Cross graduates are doing well in the community. “They come back for socials and suppers,” she noted.

The residents, graduates, volunteers, and board members are like family, she said. “One person can’t do this. We’re definitely a family.”

The residents all come together at dinnertime, Ms Messina said. “We live as a family here. There is interaction all the time. The people here become the family they don’t have. They’re learning to relate to each other. The people blossom.”

She explained that when people are homeless, “isolation is survival. It keeps you safe. It’s hard to get over that.”

Ms Messina said there is no stereotypical homeless person. “Everyone has their own story to tell. We offer people an opportunity. It’s up to them what they do with the opportunity.”

Volunteers are very important to Shelter of the Cross. Prior to its opening, the Cherry Street home was rehabilitated through the help of volunteers from Habitat for humanity, AmeriCares, and other charitable organizations. The work took nine months to complete, Ms Messina said.

“I was lucky when we purchased the house. It had been foreclosed on by HUD, and we purchased it from them,” she said. She is actively looking for other houses.

“We rely on our volunteers,” Ms Messina said. Shelter of the Cross volunteers come from all area towns and include individuals, youth groups, and civic, church, and business organizations.

Dot Baumert of the Newtown Rotary Club was looking for a community service project for the group about four years ago when she first learned about Shelter of the Cross.

“I was told it was just being established but that its services would be available to all the towns,” Mrs Baumert said this week. Newtown Rotary subsequently became involved, its members helping out with an open house when the Shelter of the Cross opened. They also took part in the recent fundraising breakfast, which was chaired by Duane Baumert, Mrs Baumert’s husband, who has been a member of the board of Shelter of the Cross for three years. Rotary members also get involved during the holidays and make visits to the residents, Mrs Baumert said.

 Last year the Rotary Club donated half the money raised from its annual Newtown Rotary Benefit Golf Classic to Shelter of the Cross. The other half is donated to the Family Counseling Center. Last year they raised $6,500. This year they hope to raise $7,500, according to Mr Baumert.

“It’s a wonderful project. We’re trying to create an awareness of what it’s all about,” Mrs Baumert said. “People don’t think that senior citizens that are homeless are afraid to go to a regular shelter for fear they will be mugged or something.”

While Rotary Clubs in Ridgefield, Brookfield, and Danbury also help out at the Shelter of the Cross, Mrs Baumert said, “It’s become Newtown Rotary’s baby.”

Mrs Baumert and other Rotary members were recently instrumental in Shelter of the Cross receiving $2,500 from the Town of Newtown budget.

Mrs Baumert had high praise for Ms Messina. “Karen’s devoted her life to this,” she noted.

Newtown resident Leo McIlrath also serves as a board member.

Volunteers are needed to help residents with life skills training, such as computer work, accounting, and nutritional education.

Shelter of the Cross, Inc., is a cost-effective alternative to assisted living or a nursing home, Ms Messina said. She noted that many of its residents have been in nursing homes or were candidates for nursing homes. The cost per resident per year for Shelter of the Cross is $20,450 as compared to $37,000 per year for assisted living and $60,000 per year for a nursing home, costs that the state would have to pay, she said.

It receives a broad base of financial support, Ms Messina said, from civic groups, individuals, businesses, corporations, churches, private foundations, the Western Connecticut Commission on Aging, and the City of Danbury. Ms Messina said she would also be approaching the social service departments of surrounding towns because its services are available to them as a resource.

Residents contribute a program fee of $350 per month if they have income, such as Social Security, she said. Some of the residents also work.

However, no one is denied access if they lack income, she said.

The annual budget of Shelter of the Cross is $150,000, including $60,000 in-kind support. If fully funded, Ms Messina said the budget would be $350,000. “We really operate on a shoestring here. We are very cost effective.”

The breakfast fundraiser, held in February, was very successful, Ms Messina said. Over 160 individuals were in attendance to celebrate its third anniversary. Mrs Baumert was one of the table sponsors, and First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Dr Thomas Draper of Newtown were among those at the speakers’ table.

In 1999 the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimated:

700,000 people in the United States are homeless on any given night.

Approximately 5 to 10 million people experience homelessness at some time during their lifetime.

In Connecticut 8,556 people were turned away from emergency shelters because of lack of beds.

Many elderly homeless are distrustful of shelters, malnourished, isolated and fearful, victimized, suffer severe and chronic health problems, lack daily living skills, or are mentally ill.

Shelter of the Cross welcomes all kinds of contributions, Ms Messina said, including in-kind contributions, such as professional services, volunteers, materials and supplies, grant writing, and fundraising, as well as financial assistance. It does not accept clothing because it is affiliated with Hope Chest. Donations to Hope Chest may be made in the name of Shelter of the Cross. Donations of food should include non-sugar products and diabetic and dietetic products.

Checks should be made payable to Shelter of the Cross, Inc., PO Box 4095, Danbury, CT 06813-4095. All donations are tax deductible.

For further information, to volunteer, or to arrange a visit to the home, call 203-791-1050.