Homelessness in the United States is increasing and can be found in rural areas as well as in big cities.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing estimate over 550,000 men, women, and children are homeless on any given night. Most, about 70 percent, are adult males and at 49 percent, Caucasians represent the largest ethnic group, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Included in the 550,000 homeless are nearly 38,000 veterans — again, primarily men — representing 9 percent of homeless adults. While that percentage is still high, the number has decreased over the past 10 years, when veterans represented about 25 percent of the adult homeless population. The decrease is due to the efforts of the Veterans Administration and national veterans organizations.

There are four primary causes of homelessness, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness. Poverty is first, followed by the lack of affordable housing, unemployment, and mental illness with the lack of needed services. Following at number five is substance abuse and the lack of needed services.

While most of the nation’s homeless are found in urban areas, the Department of Housing estimates 7 percent can be found in rural communities like Mountain Home.

For the rural homeless, especially families, day-to-day living is more difficult than for the homeless living in urban areas. There are fewer social services like health and human services, shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries. Also, the lack of public transportation makes it difficult to access the services that are available. The lack of accessible transportation also makes finding a job and getting to work on time difficult.

Hope for All, an all-volunteer organization formed in Mountain Home in January 2019 to help the homeless in Baxter County, estimates there are 200 homeless locally. Rev. Keith Dodson, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Mountain Home (at the time of its formation) says about 90 percent of the local homeless are men. Some are families and occasionally a youth in their late teens. Most are from or have ties to the community.

Until Hope for All was able to obtain 501(c)(3) status, the organization was a mission of First United Methodist Church. Wesley Kitchen Ministry at the church hosts a free to-go meal on Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Currently, Hope for All has approximately 15 volunteers representing First United Methodist Church, the 7th Day Adventist Church, St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Word of Life Church, C3 Church, Twin Lakes Church of the Nazarene, and ARC Church. 

“We’re very good at directing the homeless to agencies in the community that can help them,” Densmore said. “If there is no help available, we identify what they need — food, tents, sleeping bags, etc. — and help them get it.”

“What’s wonderful is that other agencies and services are working with us to provide for the needs of others,” said Hope for All volunteer, Marilyn Kobialka.

Since its inception, Hope for All has helped over 200 of the homeless by providing clothing, food, transportation, tents, sleeping bags and help obtaining identification. We have also assisted over 40 homeless get off the streets by finding jobs, housing and providing support.

Kathryn Wedgeworth, who has been volunteering with Hope for All since it began, says proper identification is a major issue for the homeless.

“Most homeless don’t have their identification; it’s been lost or stolen. Without an ID they are unable to apply for a job or have access to many services.”

The group helps those without identification obtain it through the state or VA. Often they have legal issues like unpaid fines, according to Wedgeworth. Hope for All volunteers work with those individuals to get the fines paid, sometimes through community service.

Hope for All has helped a man who was living in his car get a job, which he still holds, at a local manufacturing company. They helped another man get training and he graduated from truck driving school and is now working as a truck driver. Extensive help was given to a woman who was near death when found and is now living in an apartment and stabilized on her medication.

“Since inception God has blessed us. Our volunteers have worked so hard to help the homeless improve their lives,” Wedgeworth said.

Finding temporary shelter for the homeless locally is difficult. Although Hope for All directs homeless veterans for help from the VA, men to Alpha House and women to Gamma House, women and men to Care Center Ministries, these are usually at capacity. When appropriate, they also direct women to Serenity, Inc., which is for victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, there is no local shelter to accommodate families.

A local man allowed Hope for All to use a house in 2020 (Hope House) free of charge. We renovated it and then purchased it in 2021 with a goal of paying it off within 5 years. Through the generous donations and fund raising efforts, it was also totally paid in 4th quarter of 2021. It accommodates four men and an on-site male shelter manager. A local Church allowed Hope for All to use their basement rooms for a Women and Children’s shelter during 2020 and part of 2021. 

Recently, Hope for All moved their offices from temporary space at First United Methodist Church to a permanent location at the Christian Clinic with hours from 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. 

“We are in desperate need of volunteers,” Kobialka said. Volunteers duties include working in the office, helping serve meals and driving homeless clients to appointments and job interviews. Mentoring homeless people on how to budget, how to interview for jobs, and how to make sound decisions is time consuming but definitely needed. 

St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church donated a van that has been a real blessing to reduce the miles that volunteers use their own vehicles. In 2021, a VA grant gave Hope for All another van that is more fuel efficient. 

Hope for All needs tents, sleeping bags, food, job leads and of course, financial donations.

“We are all volunteers. There is no paid staff. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and every penny goes to help the homeless,” Densmore said.

“This is the story of the Good Samaritan. These are our brothers, sisters and neighbors we are helping,” said Dodson.