Homeless People

tarar@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - One woman left her home to escape abuse. A single mother with two children couldn't afford to pay the rent after her boyfriend quit his job. Another woman and her daughter had no place else to turn after they no longer were able to stay with a friend. Laura Barger, director of social services for The Salvation Army, said those were just some of the reasons the homeless turn to the organization's shelter for help.

scottb@herald-mail.com Aaron Vaughn, who is homeless, said he got out of the cold Monday by going to the new temporary day shelter at a Hagerstown church instead of "hanging out" at the Washington County Free Library as he and other homeless people have done this winter. Spending the day in the library had some disadvantages, including the fact that some library patrons would stare at the homeless people sitting at the tables, Vaughn said. "It was pretty messed up," Vaughn said.

shappell@herald-mail.com More than a dozen homeless people Monday used a Church Street building as a base for filling out job applications, looking for permanent housing and making appointments to deal with health problems. This all on day one of operation at the winter day shelter. Approximately 15 people took advantage of the opening of the day shelter at the New Light Metropolitan Community Church at 40 W. Church St., Program Assistant Katy Costa-Sweeney said.

HAGERSTOWN - Roughly 137 homeless adults and 73 homeless children live in Washington County at any given time, according to statistics from the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness. Formed in October, the task force was created to learn more about the homeless situation in Hagerstown, Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II said. Its members will meet for the last time Wednesday to discuss their findings. "It will help us get a grip on who's homeless, why they're homeless and how long," he said.

Roughly 137 homeless adults and 73 homeless children live in Washington County at any given time, according to statistics from the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness. Formed in October, the task force was created to learn more about the homeless situation in Hagerstown, Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II said. Its members will meet for the last time Wednesday to discuss their findings. "It will help us get a grip on who's homeless, why they're homeless and how long," he said. The task force's goal is to help as many homeless people as possible get back on their feet, Bruchey said.

shappell@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - The first full year of the day shelter at New Light Metropolitan Community Church has been a success, as many people who sought help there now have permanent housing and jobs, said REACH Executive Director Terri Baker. About 42 people per day on average attended a day shelter run jointly by REACH Turning Point and the Community Action Council during the 2003-04 winter season, Baker said Sunday, two days after the program shut down for the warm-weather months.

By GUY FLETCHER Staff Writer It was cold and damp Friday night, but Glenda S. Helman said that's just the way it should have been. "We felt it was important that we do this and get out here anyway, because homeless people can't get out of the rain," said Hellman, chairwoman of the Washington County Task Force on Homelessness' "'Grate' American Sleepout" at Hagerstown City Park. The event gave about 20 area residents a chance to give up the warmth of their warm, dry homes for one evening and replace such comfort with sleeping bags and barrel fires.

Volunteers are needed at shelter The Cold Weather Shelter, which is serving nearly twice as many homeless people this year than last winter, needs volunteers, officials said. Terri Baker, a representative of REACH Inc., which runs the shelter, said the shelter especially needs volunteers to work from 11:45 p.m. to 7 a.m. "We're having a hard time staffing the late shift," she said. While a paid security guard mans the shelter, Baker said officials would like to have volunteers there, as well.

ANNAPOLIS -- He's been threatened and his property has been vandalized. More than once he's had to call the police to stop a group of children from throwing beer bottles, sticks and eggs at his home. James Devine's home happens to be his van, and now the Washington County resident is pushing for a state law that would make crimes against him and other homeless people considered hate crimes. Devine, who has been homeless for 25 years, was in Annapolis Tuesday to testify in favor of a bill sponsored by Sen. Alex X. Mooney, R-Frederick/Washington, that would make the homeless a protected classification, in the same way crimes based on race or religion are considered hate crimes.

HAGERSTOWN - The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday dumped an ordinance from its agenda that, if passed, would have made it illegal for people to live in vehicles parked on public property. During the public comments portion of the meeting, several people spoke against the proposal, saying it discriminated against the homeless. Hagerstown resident James Devine told the council that many people don't choose to be homeless and shouldn't be punished as a result. Devine, who lives in a vehicle, said he has no family or friends to take him in and struggles to survive.