Helping Hands and volunteers describe emergency shelter work, urge permanent low-barrier shelter

During the meeting’s public-comment period Feb. 20, Becca Duncan, director of Helping Hands of Putnam County, and other volunteers described the community-run emergency shelter effort and asked for continued city support and partnership on a permanent low-barrier shelter.

Duncan said the collective effort served more than 100 individuals this season, opened 10 days at Thanksgiving and operated 30 days in January, and planned an additional eight-day period before closing. She listed services provided to shelter guests — assistance obtaining legal documents, health insurance, food stamps, prescriptions and job support — and said the volunteers established a stable mailing address and other supports that remove barriers to benefits and employment.

Duncan also said the coalition has used a community response team (a grant-funded team that can dispatch a mental-health counselor and a paramedic) to reduce use of 911 for non-emergency calls. She said the United Church of Cookeville will host ongoing weekly services (9 a.m.–1 p.m. Fridays) after the emergency shelter period ends to provide mail, showers and laundry.

Another volunteer described the program as mutual aid involving the county, city, churches and citizens. Speakers emphasized that many people experiencing homelessness are not substance-involved and that stable shelter and services produce cost savings for hospitals and emergency services. The speakers said they would seek additional funding and asked city leaders to support a permanent low-barrier shelter to improve outcomes for unhoused residents.

Council members thanked the volunteers for the effort and noted the city would consider further funding requests through the budget process.