As temps drop, some shelters have no room at the inn

Editor’s note: If you have spent time in a homeless shelter, or tried to get in, reporter Josh Sweigart would like to talk to you. If you are willing to talk on the record, please call him at (937) 328-0374.

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Area homeless shelters filled to capacity this week as the region experienced a bout of freezing temperature and its first measurable snowfall.

An I-Team reporter called listed emergency shelter numbers for eight area counties Tuesday to ask about available space. The reporter was met with sympathy, as well as dejection and bureaucracy.

Montgomery County: Open, not answering

The man who answered a call to the St. Vincent De Paul men’s shelter said there were beds available. The only requirements are that a man who wants to stay there have no open warrants, and can’t be a sex offender.

A call to the listed phone number for the family shelter, however, did not ring through to anyone. St. Vincent De Paul officials said they have enough room that they won’t need to turn anyone away, though.

Hamilton County: No room

A woman who answered Hamilton County’s homelessness hotline said there are zero spots available for women or families. One shelter could accept males under age 24, but everything else was full.

Butler County: Limited

“To my knowledge there’s no open beds in Butler County right now,” said a woman at Serve City CHOSEN in Hamilton.

She was partially right. The only other shelter in Hamilton had room for a mother with children — if she could provide an ID with a Butler County address and Social Security cards for her and the kids. But there was no room for a father with kids, or a man or woman by themselves.

Middletown’s women’s shelter, Hope House for Women and Children, said there was a waiting list.

“It may be three or four days before we can even consider someone,” a woman there said.

The men’s shelter also was full, though the man who answered the phone said they may open the chapel for the night for single men.

Greene County lacks services

Greene County has no temporary shelters for single men or women.

The Schneider House of Hope can provide transitional living assistance for families after they go through a lengthy county application process. But in an emergency, there is nothing for families.

Miami County possible

A representative from the Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County said help may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Warren County limited

Warren County has no emergency shelters for families with children, only a transitional housing program with a waiting list.

Bernie’s Place, in South Lebanon, did have one bed available for a single man and six for single women. But to qualify, the person must have proof he or she has lived in Warren County for at least a year.

Clark County has open beds

“We don’t deny anybody,” said the woman who answered the phone at the Hartley House in Springfield. She said they were in “overflow,” meaning they could put down cots for women and children and, if necessary, send families to a hotel.

Norm’s Place in Springfield also said it had room available for families, though they had more stringent ID requirements and had to get a background check from the jail and bring it with them.

Preble County reportedly open

Preble County Community Action Partnership officials say they have a “cold shelter” that will accept anyone. The agency that runs the shelter couldn’t be reached Tuesday.

Franklin County: Homeless? Please hold

A call to the homelessness hotline for Franklin County led to the reporter being put on hold. After a half hour, the reporter hung up.

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