June 18, 2008 — Homeless people from all over St. Croix got picked up by agencies and volunteers Wednesday and taken to the Agricultural Fairgrounds to find out what services are available to them.
Close to 40 government agencies, spiritual and non-profit organizations set up tents, tables and booths, providing free information, testing and offers of help to the homeless. It was a one-stop provider event called St. Croix Project Homeless Connect, showing where to go for basic human needs.
"I am pleased to see government, non-profits and faith-based groups work together and provide for the homeless," said Brenda Walwyn, special assistant on homelessness for the Department of Human Services.
A territory-wide count in January 2007 discovered 487 homeless people, Walwyn said. Organizers feel there are a lot more not accounted for, and say there are different degrees of homelessness.
Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis spoke at the opening ceremony, asking everyone to make calls to someone they know who may know someone who needs help.
Richard "Sky" Gomez is one of those who got help. It was 16 years getting where he is today. His downward spiral began with crack cocaine, Gomez said. His home life wasn't good after he started using. He wanted to live where he could use. His sisters and brothers all tried to help, but he didn't want to hear it, Gomez said — he just wanted crack.
He first got help at the Village V.I. Partners in Recovery, but got thrown out. He ended up getting busted for possession of crack and sentenced to six months, serving all but one of those months.
"I put what I learned in the Village about addiction to good use to get clean and get out of jail," Gomez said. "I got a lot taken away from me, but they couldn't take away my education."
Gomez works as maintenance manager at Bethlehem House. He is married, has four children and is buying a home. He says he still struggles to stay straight.
On Wednesday 45 men and 28 women went through a registration process where they filled out a services passport sheet, checking off services they needed information on. The registration gave the organizers authorization to get information about the participants and record it.
Word of the project got out to the homeless on the streets via soup kitchens, churches, shelters, media and word of mouth. The homeless were also fed and clothed at the event.
The St. Croix Career and Technical Center's 35 Good To Chew culinary students voluntarily served almost 300 meals to homeless people, workers and volunteers. Someone donated a whole cow, pork and 60 pounds of blue runners, said Anton Doos, chef at the school. My Brothers Table volunteers also served food.
Lutheran Social Services gave out clothes and Victor Petersen, a barber and employee of V.I. Fires Services, gave free haircuts.
Information was available from the Village, Office of Veterans Affairs, Catholic Charities, My Brothers Table, Legal Services of the V.I., Womens Coalition, VICARE and more. Numerous divisions of the Department of Human Services told the homeless about programs available, including food stamps, cash assistance and energy and telephone assistance.
Homeless shelters on St. Croix include Bethlehem House for women and children, Women's Coalition, Ten Thousand Helpers and the newest, the Eagles Nest for men.
Project Homeless Connect on St. Croix was the second project put on by the V.I. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The first project took place on St. Thomas in November 2007.
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