Local organizations express concern with poverty levels, lack of housing in Duluth
Anne Williamson and Dolores Broskovetz serving desserts at the Community Kitchen. Photo by Izabel Johnson
Homelessness in the Duluth area is becoming a dark reality for a significant portion of the population and as temperatures plummet, many find themselves without stable income or housing.
“There’s just not enough housing units...in the community, especially affordable ones,” Margie Nelson, the community engagement director for Lifehouse said.
The number of homeless households in Duluth has risen nearly 26 percent in the last year, according to an article published by the Duluth News Tribune in September 2019.
Lifehouse’s Drop in Youth Center takes in, on average, 50 to 60 homeless youth per day, according to Nelson.
The Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) program averages between 65 to 85 people housed nightly in CHUM’s overnight shelter and about 20 to 25 people in the family shelter. CHUM houses roughly 125 people permanently, according to CHUM Executive Director Lee Stuart.
Chum's food shelf feeds an average of 570 household each month. Photo by Izabel Johnson
Many factors contribute to the homeless epidemic found on Duluth streets.
Kim Randolph, the director for CHUM’s Shelter and Drop In Center stated that the shelter has seen a significant rise in substance abuse, especially since the closing of “The Last Place on Earth” store, which provided many Duluth residents with synthetic drugs.
“Our world down here is changing,” Randolph said, “Our situation... is a lot more desperate than it used to be.”
Randolph stated that there has also been a rise in mental health issues and physical impairments and that not many housing options in Duluth cater to these issues.
"I feel really loyal to helping others in the community,” said Kyra Gustafson, the community development manager at the Damiano Center. Photo by Izabel Johnson
Nelson stated that an increase in depression and mental illness along with the dangerous temperature drop is a main concern during the winter months in Duluth.
“If you’re sleeping outside, it’s significantly harder in the winter time,” Nelson said.
“Their mental illness is so severe, and where are they supposed to go?” Damiano Center’s Clothes that Work Coordinator Donna Verhel asked.
Many find themselves wondering where they will sleep at the end of the day.
Duluth’s poverty rate has reached 20.3 percent, with the national average at 12.3 percent, according to the most recent census report.
“Poverty is something that happens to people,” Stuart said. “That isn’t something that they choose.”
According to Stuart, two thirds of people housed at CHUM have a disability. It can also take people on the housing list over a year to find a permanent residence.
“We have a number of people with zero income,” Randolph said. “We need affordable and specialized housing.”
Volunteer interviewer at the CHUM food shelf, Lynn Shubitz, shared her concerns about the lack of government assistance, specifically food stamps.
“People are having a hard time with the amount of food stamps now,” Shubitz said. “They can hardly feed their family now. How are they going to feed them when they’re cut?”
The Trump administration moved to cut food stamps for nearly 700,000 people in 2020, according to Stuart and a recent article by The Atlantic.
“It’s a disgrace what’s happening with it now,” Stuart said.
“There is a big gap in food and security, where people aren’t getting all the food that they need,” said Kyra Gustafson, community development manager at the Damiano Center.
There are over 1,000 volunteers working at the Damiano Center, according to Kyra Gustafson. Photo by Izabel Johnson
The Damiano Center provides various services to those in need, including a community kitchen that works to provide hungry people with meals.
“We get a lot of hungry people around here… sleeping outside,” the kitchen manager and head chef for the kitchen, Flora Woodfork, said.
Damiano is not a shelter, so when it’s time to close or if there is extreme winter weather, staff are forced to lock the doors.
“When I have to lock up, it breaks my heart that I have to kick people out into the cold…. I can only ensure that they have a jacket on and warm clothes,” Verhel said.
“We are all human beings,” Verhel stated when discussing her work at Damiano, “we should be there for each other. This community’s amazing.”
“In the middle of it all, I have an opportunity to get to know folks,” Randolph said, “We joke with each other, we get to know each other. There’s a lot of humanity here.”
Verhel stressed the constant need for winter clothing donations, especially men’s clothing, “There is never an amount where we can say, ‘oh we’ve got enough.’”
To get involved:
The community can get involved by donating to local shelters or volunteering with programs, such as Damiano Center’s Community Kitchen or CHUM services.