COVINGTON — Almost 200 homeless people have begun picking up mail, taking psychiatric medication, entering detoxification programs and finding permanent jobs and apartments in the past several months.

        Their moves toward establishing a more normal, secure life are made possible by a three-year grant totaling about $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Craig McDine (right), 21, reads mail he received at Welcome House in Covington. At left is Aynne Babb, Welcome House project-services director. (Enquirer photo) | ZOOM |

        Transitions of Bellevue received the grant but Welcome House, which operates a Pike Street homeless shelter, is leading the collaboration to help the homeless. NorthKey Community Care of Florence, Covington-based Catholic Social Services and Mental Health Association of Northern Kentucky also are involved.

        Mac McArthur, Transitions' director, said the agency had spent several years trying to get the grant. It will reapply after this one expires, he said.

        Since receiving the money, Welcome House staff members have made persistent efforts to make contact with homeless people who frequent Northern Kentucky's parks, river banks and soup kitchens.

        The staff began serving coffee on Sundays and regularly stationed themselves at a Pike Street clinic and soup kitchen.

        They said many of the homeless people initially weren't interested in the services they were touting. The staff persevered and trust was established in time. .

        “They have learned to come to us before things fall completely apart,” said Linda Young, Welcome House executive director.

        “These are folks that are very isolated. It's really about helping them with getting support. We're meeting folks where they are.”

        So far, the grant has helped place 30 people in permanent housing and 60 in detoxification.

        Many others now have new birth certificates, Social Security cards and driver's licenses, documents that are important for everyday living.

        Others are getting transportation to jobs or are being trained for jobs.

        About 30 are now taking psychiatric medication.

        Mental-health issues are the primary reason so many homeless people live on the streets, she said. In some cases, that is why they are afraid of moving into an apartment.

        “Sometimes the biggest step is that they try it,” Ms. Young said.
       

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