WILLMAR -- The TV portrayal of a homeless person living in a cardboard box or pushing a grocery cart down the sidewalk could lead one to believe there are no homeless people in Kandiyohi County.
That assumption would be wrong, said Capt. Brenda Line from the Willmar Salvation Army. There are homeless individuals here, she said, but they could be sitting next to you in church or standing in line at the grocery store. They could also be living in a car or staying with friends who do have a home.
"The face of homelessness in rural Minnesota is really quite different," she said, using the term "working poor" to describe people who are trying to get ahead but find themselves without a home to call their own. Oftentimes physical or mental disabilities present barriers that launch people into chronic homelessness, she said.
A $177,000 "continuum of care" grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development will help provide housing and supportive services to homeless individuals in the county. The grant was recently awarded to the Willmar Salvation Army. This was the third year in a row the grant had been sought by the Willmar Salvation Army.
Line said the two-year program will target single adults in Kandiyohi County who have disabilities, are habitually or chronically homeless and have no, or low, income. Documentation will be required to verify the homeless status of the individuals.
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The program is not designed for people who are behind in their rent, said Line, but for people who have been in a "state of homelessness" for most of their lives.
By working with local landlords, Line said the participants will be housed in existing one-bedroom rental units primarily in the Willmar area.
"We do have a large number of folks that fit that criteria," said Line. "Many folks I talk with are so surprised we're having a problem here."
Line isn't concerned about getting the word out to potential participants about the new program. "It's just kind of amazing," she said. "The word just kind of gets out there." Besides self-referrals, agencies will also make referrals to the program.
Funding will allow the organization to hire a full-time social worker, but Line said it's hoped that local agencies will collaborate with the Salvation Army to provide funding and supportive services, like "guidance" for such things as money management, housekeeping, hygiene and nutrition.
Financial contributions and donations of furniture and other items for the homes are also being sought. "There's going to be a lot of good partnerships that can happen," said Line, who said she hopes continued grants and other funds will allow the program to exist beyond the initial two-year phase.
A maximum of seven people will be served at one time. They will be allowed to stay in the program until they are self sufficient. The program is expected to begin in early July.
