Homelessness in Ohio is tracked every year with a point in time count. Starting at midnight and continuing for 24 hours on January 24, 2012, social services staff and volunteers worked to locate and document the county’s homeless.  The count is an activity of the Ashtabula Housing Council to assist in addressing the continuum of care to homelessness in the county.  Additional information about this year's count can be read in this article:

Point In Time Article

Last year, the count was held on January 25, 2011.  The following data represent the number of people experiencing homelessness at that point in time:

• 13,003 Ohioans were homeless on a single day in 2011, 4.8% more than in 2010.
  
• 5,218 Ohioans in families with children were homeless in 2011, 8.4% more than in 2010 which is the highest level of family homelessness since statewide reporting began.
• 11,197 Ohioans were in shelters or transitional housing in 2011, 5.9% more than in 2010, and the highest number since statewide reporting began.
• In 2011, the number of unsheltered homeless in Ohio living on the streets or other places not meant for human habitation remained virtually unchanged at 1,806 people.
• 2,164 persons were chronically homeless during 2011. The number of chronically homeless was virtually unchanged from 2010, when 2,161 people were chronically homeless.
• Chronically homeless ( people who are disabled and have been homeless for a long time, or experienced many episodes of homelessness in the recent past) made up 16.6% of Ohio’s total homeless population in 2011.

If you would like to read the entire 2011 Ohio Homelessness Report from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, please click here. 

A new year has begun at the Samaritan House.  There are many new faces staying here and even a new volunteer.  Here are some statistics about our house for December and 2011:

The Samaritan House provided a place of shelter to 22 people, including 5 children for the month of December.  We had 13 new intakes enter the shelter in December.  All of them were Ashtabula County residents, except for the person from Lake County and the person from another state.  Many people contacted us for shelter and were referred to more appropriate housing opportunities.  

With a maximum capacity of 14 people, we average 11 people in the month of December.  This filled the Samaritan House with a lot of activity and kept staff very busy.

In 2011, we welcomed 164 new residents which is up from the previous 144 new residents in 2010.  Although county residents can stay at the shelter for 30 days as needed, the average stay at the shelter was only 18.9 nights.  

On a side note:

The staff and residents decorated the shelter this year.  All the residents were adopted at Christmas, including the child residing with us that day.  Some special community members dropped by with food, cookies and other donations.  Everyone at the Samaritan House was really thankful and appreciative to celebrate the season together in a warm home.

   

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, many people across America reflect on the reasons for which they are thankful. This holiday is also an appropriate time to show one’s appreciation by donating time, attention and resources to those less fortunate.

In the spirit of thanks and giving, each year the Ashtabula Homeless Shelter, Inc. asks those concerned about the social ills of poverty and homelessness to set aside some time to become aware of the issues.  Our hope at the Samaritan House, the only year-round homeless shelter located between Painesville, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania, is that the knowledge you learn will encourage and inspire you and others to get involved in activities to help end homelessness in our community and beyond.   

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2010 annual report to Congress, each night there are approximately 770,000 people in the United States who are homeless. The US Department of Education reports that there are an additional 700,000 children without a place to call home and who go to bed hungry nightly.  One in six American families live below their respective poverty thresholds. Three out of four states saw an increase in both the number and percentage of people living in poverty. Fifty million Americans live in food insecure households, with millions of children going to bed hungry each night. Three and a half million Americans will experience homelessness this year, including many United States military veterans. 

Consider joining us at our annual Miracle Mile Turkey Trot Race.  This one-mile road race is our only fundraiser this year and has an esteemed history in Ashtabula.  The Miracle Mile brings together the two great organizations of the North Coast Road Racing Grand Prix and the Ashtabula Homeless Shelter, Inc. also known as the Samaritan House.  All proceeds from this annual race support the shelter and its daily needs. A $15 race fee is required from all entrants and t-shirts are available for purchase to wear during the run. 

If you can't make it, you can always help out in other ways.  Donating time, attention and resources is always welcomed and appreciated by the many residents that stay with us throughout the year.  Check out our House Needs page to see the various items currently in need at the shelter.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 440-992-3178.  We are open  from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. seven days a week. 

Welcome to the new blog of the Samaritan House.  This blog will share information on homelessness, current activities of the shelter, needs and other news.  Please check back for updates.