Join us for our monthly meeting the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm.
at the Waxahachie Housing Authority office
(click on address for directions)
Observe with Zoom – Meeting ID: 8193326865 PW: 824105
Annual Blessing Event
SAVE the DATE!
JANUARY 27, 2021
WORKDAY
at the Tent Encampment
THANK YOU!
Many thanks to all who came out to help winterize the camp. We appreciate every second you were there.
We will let you know here and on Facebook about future workdays and projects.
DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BE
EVICTED?
Click the button and see if you qualify for rent or utility help.
Does Ellis County need a shelter?
Donations will be used to help any of the following needs throughout Ellis County:
Emergency needs for area shelters and motel costs , Gas and car repairs for families living in their vehicles, Emergency rent assistance , Case manager and housing navigator, Tent encampment for homeless men and their transportation
for work, Homeless shelter
THE NEED IN ELLIS COUNTY IS GROWING!
The need for help with temporary shelter and permanent housing is growing. The Ellis County Homeless Coalition (ECHC) is being overwhelmed with the spike in homelessness caused by evictions and the lack of affordable rental units. We are now being contacted by local food pantries for help with their clients living in their cars or area motels around our county.
We need your help to work with people that are being or have been evicted. Most of them became so far behind in rent due to COVID-19 layoffs and sickness that they were unable to make it up and stay in their homes, even when they went back to work. And, with the average rent now up to $1.60/ sq ft and so many looking for homes, it is a landlord’s market. Those with a previous eviction on their record, poor credit or whose income isn’t three times the rent are passed over, leaving a rising homeless problem.
We need your help with monetary donations or volunteer time.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Office Admin and Data Entry
Outreach Team
Transportation to work & appointments for those without vehicles
Help plan and execute our next event
Help with social media and website updates
More to come!
Learn More About Homelessness
Why are people Homeless?
Types of Homelessness
-and other information
Homelessness is not simply the result of irresponsibility; nor is it a disease of only the uneducated or addicted. It is the result of the lack of a “Living Wage,” divorce, job loss and health issues. It is a reversible condition, and when one is willing to change their situation, we are there. Daniel’s Den
Ellis County Snapshot
Groups of people experience homelessness in different ways, but all homelessness is characterized by extreme poverty coupled with a lack of stable housing. It could be the person you see walking down the street or those who are “doubled up” or “couch surfing.” Nothing but stable housing fundamentally differentiates those who experience homelessness and those who don’t.
-National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, nhchc.org
1 in every 5 children in Ellis County is at risk for hunger every day.
During the January 2020 Point-in-Time Count (official count for HUD), 74 people were experiencing homelessness in Ellis County.
This count is for people of all ages living unsheltered or in a temporary shelter.
10.5% residents in our county are living below the federal poverty level.
It’s difficult for low-income individuals and families to find places to live when our median rent is $1359 a month. This is more than 50% of net monthly income for these residents.
16.91% of those in poverty did not complete high school.
How can we help them break the cycle of hopelessness?
As of January 29, 2020, there were 435 Ellis County students classified as HOMELESS in our 11 school districts.
This is in our own community!
Resources: https://www.census.gov/; https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml; https://hotpads.com/ellis-county-tx/houses-for-rent?lat=32.2282&lon=-96.6289&z=12; http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/tx/ellis-county-population/, https://txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48139, TEA, Region 10 information based on the McKinney-Vento Act Classifications