Hello wonderful TIS Supporters!
DID YOU KNOW that there were 262 homeless children in Talbot County Public Schools this school year? That is 262 children enrolled in school without a ‘permanent’ address. They might be couch surfing in the homes of friends and family or living someplace unfit for human habitation.
Imagine what that would do to your ability to learn, or the behavior problems that would manifest. Not to mention, these children have one or more family members not in the school system—at least one parent, but also possibly siblings who are too young or old for school. These unique family structures make it hard for us to decipher the total number of homeless people based on the TCPS numbers.
DID YOU KNOW that Talbot Interfaith Shelter can house 5 families at a time at our family shelter, Easton’s Promise? Yet there are many more that we cannot serve due to lack of space. It takes time to provide education and resources to help our unhoused neighbors in their fight to be self-reliant.
An average shelter stay for a family is 9 to 12 months before they have gained the knowledge, employment, savings, and stability to be able to move into one of our 18 subsidized Transitional Apartments. There they continue to receive case management and support, with the intent that in two years they are ready to enter the housing market. This journey to self-reliance takes time and money, and we are facing a gap in funding as we approach the end of our fiscal year. We need your help.
DID YOU KNOW that in Talbot County one needs to earn $36.70 per hour to afford a 2-bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent? Maryland’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reports that a 2-bedroom apartment in Talbot County now costs $1400 per month.
Housing should cost no more than 30% of your income. TIS’ guests are usually single income households that gross $35,000 or less. A full-time hourly minimum-wage job pays only $31,200 gross per year, or $2400 per month. Where might one find a 2-bedroom apartment for just $600/month? Nowhere in any of our Mid-Shore counties! It is difficult enough for our teachers, nurses and EMT’s to afford housing in the Mid-Shore, much less those who serve you at the grocery store, Target, or Walmart.
On May 25, I met with a panel of service providers working with those grappling with poverty to discuss ways to change this situation. We decided that the first step is advocacy. We need YOU, the public, to know these facts and to put pressure on our local government officials to help solve this problem.
For instance, should the former Health Department property (owned by Talbot County) or the current Memorial Hospital property (owned by Shore Health Systems) become luxury apartments or business hubs? Or should Talbot County help our neighbors struggling to house and feed their families? There are proven ways to create truly affordable housing, but we first need to change the mindset of those who prioritize what gets built in Talbot County. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be known, yes, as one of the richest counties in the nation, but also for our compassion and caring for our neighbors in need?
I challenge you to join me in advocating for compassion and inclusivity in our community. I also urge you to increase your support for our successful S4 Program. We are so incredibly grateful for our supporters to have brought us this far, yet there are so many members of our community who still need our help.
With my deepest gratitude,
Julie Lowe