By Scott L. Miley, Herald Bulletin Associate Features Editor
ANDERSON — On any given night, there might be 150 or 200 people seeking assistance in Madison County’s shelters.
That was true Oct. 8, when local shelter administrators counted 250 homeless people in the county’s seven shelters.
On Nov. 13, area residents — who likely have homes — will have the chance to better understand the plight through “Reality Check: Confronting Homelessness,” an all-night event sponsored by the area’s two emergency shelters, Alternatives Inc. and The Christian Center.
The event is open to the public who will spend the night in a cardboard home or tent, said Mary Jo Lee, executive director of Alternatives Inc. of Anderson.
“We’re really want to raise awareness. We need for this community to understand that we do have homeless people in this community and that they need help and we need help to take care of them,” said Lee.
The concept grew from concern earlier this year over rising numbers homless and a report of a “Tent City” where a homeless man, and possibly others, were living in woods near White River in downtown Anderson, said Lee.
In January, the federal Housing and Urban Development required a count of homeless residents in U.S. cities. Locally, there 152 men, women and children in shelters on Jan. 29.
The October count of 220 indicates a rise, said Lee, who expected the number to be larger in the winter month of January.
“It’s been cold and cool but this isn’t winter and we’re not into the heavy heating bills or all kinds of things we see,” Lee said.
“Reality Check” was initially set for Shadyside Park but city officials acknowledged the event would receive better visibility at a vacant Delco-Remy site along Scatterfield. The city owns the site in the block of Scatterfield, where participants will stay from Nov. 13-14. For information, participants can call 649-4264 or 643-0218.
