Construction is under way for Dunklin County's SEMO Safe Haven facility, located off the North By-pass at the corner of Floyd and Riggs streets at Kennett. The estimated completion date is set for July, 2007. [Click to enlarge]

Assistance Homeless advocates and service providers in the state will come together on Jan. 25, to complete a comprehensive count of the homeless in Missouri.

On this day agencies and advocates will make efforts to locate those who find shelter in their cars, abandoned buildings, and any other place that is not easily recognized as a gathering place for the homeless.

Spearheaded by Gov. Matt Blunt's Committee to End Homelessness, individuals and agencies across the state will put in countless hours to identify homeless Missourians.

"Homelessness affects Missourians of all walks of life, from all parts of our state," Blunt said. "The annual, one day, targeted count provides the basis to ensure local, state and federal resources are available to Missouri's homeless."

The Governor's Committee to End Homelessness, established in 1988, provides coordination and program oversight for the Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC).

The Missouri Housing Development Commission consists of the governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, attorney general and six members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

The governor's committee collaborates with Missouri Housing Development Commission, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Economic Development, and many other public and private agencies, to coordinate the CoC's annual application to HUD for homelessness funds.

Myra Callahan, Chief Executive Officer at Family Counseling Center at Kennett, is one of the six chairmen appointed to this elite committee.

Callahan's hard work and determination to best serve this committee will soon pay off for many Dunklin County residents who are in need of this kind of assistance.

Dunklin County's homeless rate got the attention of this committee through the most recently conducted homeless report.

"I don't think people realize how many homeless people we have in this area," Callahan said.

Because of its findings FCC was awarded a few grants in order to construct a new Safe Haven facility that will serve residents of Dunklin County. The facility has been named the SEMO Safe Haven.

"The 7,741 square-foot Safe Haven which is currently under construction, off the North By-pass, at the corner of Floyd and Riggs streets, is expected to be complete around July 2007.

Funding for Safe Haven was obtained through a couple of grants which Callahan worked hard to obtain, meeting with state, federal and local officials.

"The SEMO Safe Haven will be the first out-state Safe Haven in Missouri," Callahan said.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development approved a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant housing grant for Dunklin County on behalf of Family Counseling Center Inc.

The center was also awarded a $674,566 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant by Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and after applying with the Missouri Housing Development Commission Missouri Housing Trust Fund, $100,000 was awarded through that trust fund.

"The Safe Haven facility will serve to meet the needs of disabled or homeless people living in Dunklin County, due to their disability or resident status," Callahan said.

Each year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development seeks to identify the sheltered and unsheltered homeless population. This count serves as the baseline for virtually all the federal programs assisting homeless families and individuals.

Callahan said she is very proud to have taken part in getting a facility such as this established here. "The good thing about the Safe Haven is that it serves different people from all walks of life in different capacities," Callahan said.

"The Safe Haven will provide a hot meal and a shower to someone who doesn't wish to stay, or it can provide a temporary efficiency apartment for someone who needs assistance until they can get back on their feet," she added.

Callahan stressed the point that no one at any time will be made to stay at the Safe Haven. "The Safe Haven will serve each individual's personal needs," Callahan said. "One may be looking for a place to sleep, another may need to get warm clothes and a hot shower, and another may be in need of some other type of assistance."

The SEMO Safe Haven will be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, with on staff trained professionals to work with, assist, and help all who come in.

The amount of money Missouri receives in grants and government assistance is directly influenced by the numbers reported each year.

Additional representation includes the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, the Missouri Association for MHDC is the state's housing finance agency. The Commission is dedicated to strengthening communities and the lives of Missourians through the financing, development and preservation of affordable housing.

All funds received are spent by the commission on homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, traditional housing, emergency housing assistance and home repairs for low-income homeowners, the development of low-income housing and rental assistance for low-income people.

Anyone wishing to obtain additional information on homelessness in Dunklin County or to make a report, can do so by contacting Anthony Smith, Family Counseling Center's Housing Coordinator, at (573)-718-4396, or Myra Callahan at (573)-888-5925.