Homeless in rural Kansas, too

The Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition meets today and Thursday in Hutchinson for its annual summit. Director Lisa Davis told The Eagle that this year’s meeting of homeless service providers will focus on the problems of rural homeless, who often go “under the radar” because of a lack of homeless shelters and other services in rural areas.
Davis estimates that on any given night, some 3,700 rural Kansans are homeless — often because of domestic violence and other social problems.
It was encouraging to hear her say that the group hopes to work closely with the new state Interagency Council on Homelessness to find solutions that stress permanent housing, not temporary shelter.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

5 Comments

  1. NoJoCo
    Posted October 19, 2005 at 5:08 am | Permalink

    That’s not something you think about every day – the homeless in rural KS. I hope the goals of these organizations are met.

  2. ProudMan
    Posted October 19, 2005 at 7:14 am | Permalink

    I would love to see them back up the 3700 number. I’d wager that only a few of that number are “on the streets” as is usually associated with the homeless. Most are staying with friends or relatives for a few days and never spend the night outdoors.

  3. Joe Williams
    Posted October 19, 2005 at 8:43 am | Permalink

    Yeah! I believe that number is not right. Orginization tend to exagerate and inflate numbers to further their cause, but for the most part, to get money.

  4. Galahad
    Posted October 19, 2005 at 9:31 am | Permalink

    And they’re probably voting for Bush. The poorest counties in America vote overwhelmingly for Bush.

    “How long do you have to get hit over the head, before you see who’s hitting you?” Harry S. Truman

  5. Jeff
    Posted October 19, 2005 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    Everyone, you need to understand that to be termed “homeless” doesn’t necessarily mean you are living out on the streets or in the woods. If you do not have a permanent address you can call your own, you can be termed homeless. So, those living temporarily with family or friends do fall under the umbrella of homeless, and this often puts a great deal of emotional and financial stress on such homes, though it is great that they take in their friend or relative who is on hard times. I don’t find it so hard to believe that 3700 rural Kansans might be in that predicament due to a domestic situation or financial hardship.