A local organization fighting homelessness in Callaway County is working hard to help the downtrodden get back on their feet.
Brad Sheppard, executive director of Our House, said the organization is actively involved in serving the homeless population in the county. Several examples over the years have truly illustrated the charity's mission, he added.
"A woman that came to us earlier this year was a college graduate who had a journalism background," he said. "While she stayed with us, she got really involved in the community. A few months ago, she found a job as an editor of a small-town newspaper."
In addition to focusing on helping individuals, the organization also helps families who have fallen on hard times, Sheppard said.
"One of the families we served recently was a very young mother of two children," he said. "The mom had a history of addiction but eventually went into recovery. While in recovery, she lost her place to live. She was determined to find her way again. It amazes me how resilient children are, even in the face of homelessness."
Our House operates two shelters for the homeless in Fulton, one for families and the other for individual adults, Sheppard said.
"The family shelter has three bedrooms of various sizes," he added. "At our overnight shelter, we have nine beds for men and eight beds for women. There's never been a night we didn't house somebody."
Sheppard said the organization, founded more than 30 years ago, used to be broadly focused on charity work in the community. They have since honed in on providing housing and opportunities for the homeless, he added.
"We've tried to focus specifically on homelessness and broadening our base in the community," he said. "We try to emphasize working as a community to serve the homeless. We work a lot with SERVE Inc. That (organization) is a real gift to this community."
In addition to providing food and housing for those in need, Sheppard said the organization is also working to actively teach life skills so clients may have an opportunity to work their way out of poverty.
"We're also working with the Central Missouri Community Action," he said. "They realized that holding classes at their facility can be difficult to attend, so in November, they're bringing the classes to us. They teach everything from hygiene to personal finance."
Among the homeless population, Sheppard said there has been a steadily increasing number of people with mental illnesses seeking help.
"We're seeing a rise in mental health issues," he said. "That's something that's happened over the last few decades. There's not adequate services for them. Many times their issues are debilitating to the point where they can't hold down a job or a house."
Another challenge is the physical conditions of some of the homeless people, Sheppard said.
"We're also seeing chronic health conditions," he added. "Being homeless can be challenging enough. In addition, our adults who stay the night with us are required to be out during the day. That can be difficult for some."
Considering all the challenges they face, Sheppard said the organization is thrilled with the help they receive from people in the county.
"Our House wouldn't be around if it wasn't for the generosity of Callaway County," he said. "It costs money to help the homeless. We are an agency of Callaway County United Way. We are very dependent on them, and they are one of our strongest supporters."