In an effort to help homeless people get back on their feet, the MSU School of Social Work and Volunteers of America Michigan hosted a resource fair where local agencies provided information about jobs and housing, and services such as free HIV testing.
More than 100 people passed through the Volunteers of America Michigan's New Hope Day Center, 430 N. Larch St. in Lansing.
"It's a full gamut of human misery in the center because these people have so many afflictions that keep them from working, and there's not enough affordable housing in Lansing," said Patrick Patterson, director of operations for the center. "We have clients that work and still can't afford to live here."
In 2004, the center provided about 80,000 meals to people who would have been out on the streets, Patterson said. According to a visitor, rules require that each person can stay up to 30 days at a time.
During the event, participants were given a free lunch donated by local restaurants such as Winston's Catering, Le Chef Creole, Taste of Thai and PF Chang's China Bistro. Local agencies that provided resources included The Salvation Army, Lansing Area AIDS Network and Gateway Community Services.
"We're here to help the needy people of Lansing by determining their eligibility for Medicaid and other medical services," said Vivian Baxter, representative from the Family Independence Agency.
Volunteers from the MSU School of Social Work distributed bags filled with deodorant, shampoo and other toiletries, as well as MSU hats.
Students also helped serve lunch. Food was served buffet style, and included lasagna, salad, rice and various Asian dishes.
"We've tried to shift from campus events to doing work out in the community," said Gary Anderson, director of the School of Social Work. "We're very proud to have partnered with an agency like Volunteers of America."
Michael Fisher, a regular visitor to the New Hope Day Center, said the food was good, but that's not why so many people attended the event.
"At the end of the month, there are a lot more people here because their checks are running out, and they don't have any money left for food," Fisher said. "They really help us out here."
In the Lansing area, a full-time worker must earn $12.40 per hour to afford a two-bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market rent, which is $645, according to 2004 data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
The Fair Market rent for an area is the amount needed to pay the rent of privately owned, decent and safe rental housing of a modest nature, and is established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A worker earning the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour must work 96 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market rent. A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30 percent of the renter's income.
"Until housing costs come down, you will see more and more people on the streets," said DeBrenna Agbenyiga, clinical instructor with the School of Social Work. "The number just keeps increasing."
