by Mackenzie Cooney | Owl Staff
Harford Family House has a 4-H Club, a children’s development program, which hosts many activities to make the kids feel apart of a community. (Photo Contributed by Harford Family House)
“If they wanted to go to school, we help them with FASFA applications and applications to college. A lot of people end up going to HCC because there is support, there’s some grants and things that they get to go there, so it’s a nice stop for people.”
Last Monday, I spoke with Robin Tomechko, the CEO of Harford Family House, to learn more about the organization and homelessness in Harford County. Harford Family House is the “largest provider of shelter and support for families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Harford County.”
Homelessness is an unrecognized issue by many people in Harford County. With the current state of the economy, homelessness and financial stress is becoming more and more common. When talking with Tomechko, she discussed how a culmination of expenses can lead to homelessness. With a lack of affordable housing, medical expenses or a loss of a job could push a family into homelessness.
“Given the tough economy, more and more people are one paycheck away from being homeless,” shared Tomechko.
A lack of affordable housing is a major issue in the United States but especially Harford County. According to Zillow, the average price for a house is $407,163 and the average rent for an apartment is $1,767. Adding the price of food, car payments, insurance, or school supplies, it’s easy for a family to fall towards the poverty line with one emergency. Harford County Public Schools report there are over 500 families without a permanent address.
“If they wanted to go to school, we help them with FASFA applications and applications to college.”
Tomechko shared that Harford Community Action Agency, the organization that refers people to Harford Family House, has a list of 200 people that need shelter. Harford Family House currently hosts forty families in their transitional housing.
“Given the tough economy, more and more people are one paycheck away from being homeless,” said Tomechko.
Although families aren’t the only people affected by homelessness; older and younger individuals experience homelessness as well. Tomechko shared that they are experiencing an influx of older individuals, around 55 and over, that are seeking housing. Many of these older individuals don’t have family and their only source of income is social security. Within the last year, they served ten veterans who were in similar situations.
Harford Family House has a separate program for younger adults, Ready by 21, intended to support kids who are aging out of the foster care system. Harford Family House provides them with housing and an array of resources.
“They need the housing, but they also need the connection to other resources… If they can’t feel that, a lot of their journey is not going to change, we need to get them into services that are going to help,” shared Tomechko.
The program teaches them life skills such as housing, finances, employment, and mental health. While many of them are focused on working, HFH encourages them to get an education as well.
Tomechko shared that many of them will attend HCC because of its affordability and the variety of scholarship opportunities adding that many “don’t have an opportunity to dream about what it is that they could be or could do, because they’re in survival mode.”
Through the support of volunteers, donations, case managers, or community events, they’re able to believe in accomplishing more.
Harford Family House continues to work towards bettering the lives of homeless families and individuals. Many people in our community struggle with homelessness and are living paycheck to paycheck. Especially during this time of year, it’s important to give back and remember the people that may be struggling.
More information can be found on their website: HarfordFamilyHouse.org.