Serving northwest Allen County INfortwayne.com
An invisible crisis by bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
It’s an invisible crisis but if you look closely, the signs are there: the student nodding off in class, the school bus making a stop at a motel, the waiting lines to get into family shelters. “Family and student homelessness is often not visible (and is) even difficult to identify,” said Wendy Hoering, Families in Transition coordinator for Fort Wayne Community Schools. Hoering serves as the school corporation’s McKinney-Vento liaison. The federal program
provides assistances for students experiencing homelessness. Each year, communities across the country do a headcount of homeless Americans. The “point in time” count takes place during the last week in January, and counts people living in shelters as well as people who are “unsheltered” – living on the street, in parks, under bridges and in their cars. According to the 2017 count, 5,438 Hoosiers were homeless. However, it’s likely that the number of Hoosiers facing housing insecurity
December 2018
QUALITY ROOFING AFFORDABLE PRICING EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE
CALL NOW
260-755-3623
G U T T E R S Residential & Commercial
BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ
Vincent Village staff and families celebrate the completion of the Learning Center for Homeless Children. Interior design firm One Eleven Design donated its services to create a space for the children. The center, which serves almost 200 youth, will provide daily activities that include tutoring, art, literacy, social skill building and access to technology.
is much higher. That’s because the “point in time” count largely overlooks homeless families. It doesn’t count families who are “doubled up” — living with a relative or a family friend due to an economic hardship — nor does it consider families living in long-term stay hotels and motels.
HOmeLeSS STUDeNTS
In the three years since Hoering entered her role, See HOMELESS, Page 5
CONTRIBUTED
Carroll’s Charger Pride performs at Lucas Oil Stadium during the state marching band finals. Carroll placed eighth in Class A.
Charger Pride takes eighth at state by Louis Wyatt lwyatt@kpcmedia.com
After another long season of marching band, it all came to a close for the Charger Pride Nov. 3. Carroll performed its 2018 show, “In the Glass,” for the final time at the State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. “When you qualify for state, you know going into it that this is it, so there’s kind of an emotional build up,” Director Doug
Hassell said. “Part of it is just performing at state, but I think the other part is when the kids know it’s their last time together, there’s obviously the emotional payoff of the performance. There’s a really big release because you realize that was it and you’re done. And, to be on that field, it’s such a grand stage for them to finish on.” The Charger Pride has qualified for state five of
the last six years, taking 10th place in 2013, 2014 and 2016, and ninth place last year. This time around, they took eighth in Class A. “We were ecstatic for a number of reasons,” Hassell said. “First of all, it was a great performance, and they knew it was a good performance to cap a great season. I told the performers before the show that I was See BAND, Page 14
“
Family and student homelessness is often not visible (and is) even difficult to identify.” —Wendy Hoering, Families in Transition coordinator for Fort Wayne Community Schools
INSIDE DUPONT Arts & Culture ..................... A6 Briefs .................................... A3 Community Calendar........................A15-16 Pufferbelly Trail .................. A9 Food & Drink ......................A10 Carroll Cheerleading .......... A7
SAVINGS…
Check out the savings and coupons in this month’s Penny Saver.
INSIDE: n Check out what
the local arts scene has to offer this season. Page 6