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HomeNewsArchivesSymposium Reveals No Easy Answers to Growing V.I. Homeless Problem

Symposium Reveals No Easy Answers to Growing V.I. Homeless Problem

March 30, 2007 — The plight of the territory’s homeless was the subject for a long and wide-ranging discussion Friday at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort that its organizers hoped would renew the effort to address long-standing issues that include not only the homeless, but also mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence.
Sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Homeless Symposium featured nationally known speakers along with community and government leaders.
The day was filled with advocates and experts who made various presentations outlining the systemic problems for the homeless and possible solutions.
In his opening remarks, U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Jenkins stressed the deJongh administration’s commitment to finding solutions for the plight of homeless. Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch and members of the VIPD were in attendance and also pledged support and action.
The number of homeless in the territory is significant — currently estimated to be approximately 525, many of whom are unsheltered. That number is only an estimate because the numbers shift and the counts are based on single-day snapshots. This represents a steady increase from previous years.
There is no current effective system in place that will turn the numbers around. The term, “revolving door,” was used throughout the day, describing a system in which the chronically homeless and mentally ill are treated and released, only to be picked up time and again. Or left to fend for themselves.
Nationally, the homeless figures run into the millions with estimates ranging from one to three million. Forty-seven percent are single males, while 60 percent are minorities.
Twenty-five percent are under the age of 17, and 25 percent have disabilities, including mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders.
One of the morning’s first presenters was Louise Petersen, executive director of the Methodist Training & Outreach Center (MTOC), who spoke of the progress made since 2000 but also cited a lack of services and shelters. She noted that the territory was only receiving one-third of available federal funding due to a local failure to meet Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements.
Petersen said, “We want to see the local government put some effort in so that HUD will provide all the funding that is available. They want to see something on our part. We have a new administration that has promised to work with us. Now is the time.”
The MTOC directs the local Continuum of Care which, according to its website, “is a community plan that is intended to organize and deliver housing and services in order to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self sufficiency.” The plan is available online.
Nationally, there are 55 continuums, which provide much of the current data on the homeless. The continuums are the only agencies whose sole focus, year round, is on the homelessness.
The keynote speaker of the morning session was Anne Denton of the Alliance for Human Potential, located in Austin, Texas. Denton has 25 years experience in the public mental health system and program development. She is a recognized expert on housing issues for people with mental disabilities and people who are homeless.
She accentuated the positive and noted that the territory has a great opportunity before it. “The time is now. Everything is in alignment. You have an administration, a governor and an attorney general who have said this is a priority. You have a plan, and you have the people in this room to make the necessary changes.”
In a lengthy presentation, Denton offered her perspective on how best to solve the problems in the territory. She has offered training and technical assistance to states, communities, advocates and providers throughout the states on all aspects of housing for people with disabilities, especially the development, financing and operation of supported housing.
The afternoon session began with a presentation by Dr. Randy Dupont and Major Sam Cochran of the Memphis, Tenn., Police Dept., who described an innovative program designed for first responders and the homeless. The program utilizes Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) and is a model of police-based intervention in behavioral crises.
The CIT program provides special training for officers to respond to mental health emergencies. CITs are used in 500 American cities and are specifically designed to deal with the homeless and mentally ill, with a focus on getting them the care they need and keeping them out of the criminal justice system.
CIT training took place on St. Croix last year and is expected on St. Thomas by summer’s end.
Cochran described an exercise that he uses regularly to enable police to better understand that mental illness is just that, an illness. Police are asked to list words commonly used to describe the mentally ill. Those words included “psycho, nutcase, loco, crazy, wacko” and many others, some too offensive to print. Then he asked the officers for words to describe cancer victims, which included “brave, courageous, strong.” Cochran said, "Mental illness is an illness, and we must remove the stigma associated with it. Until we do, we will not solve the problem.”
Other speakers included Dr. Denise Marshall and attorney Kelly Davis from the V.I. Attorney's General’s Office, who both spoke about involuntary commitment. Marshall spoke at some length about the inadequacies of the local health system, compounded by the refusal of Schneider Regional Medical Center to build a detox unit due to cost and staffing issues.
On St. Croix, Juan Luis Hospital is willing to address the detox problem, but it will mean fewer beds in the psychiatric unit. Marshall describes the situation as just another “catch-22” in a system that has so many similar problems.
Currently there are no local monies available for these programs, only federal funding, and this leaves severe gaps in services, according to Marshall.
She indicated that there were seven vacant positions in her department, but that was down from 27 when she took over in 2005.
St. John continues to be almost totally bereft of services for the mentally ill, but as with all the islands, staffed by hard-working and dedicated individuals engaged in combating the homeless and mental health care problems.
The symposium ended with proposals and pledges by local business leaders, led by Margaret Dean and attorney Tom Bolt. According to Bolt, the desire and impetus to solve the homeless problem is there, but it will take commitment on the community level and require both private and public support.
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