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Gulf Coast Coalition Hopes to End Area Homelessness

By Chris Newbold, Alabama Public Radio

Mobile, AL – ADVOCATES FOR THE HOMELESS SAY THE NUMBER OF ALABAMIANS WITHOUT A HOME IS GROWING IN MANY OF THE STATE'S CITIES AND TOWNS. ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO'S CHRIS NEWBOLD REPORTS ON AN ORGANIZATION IN MOBILE WHICH HOPES TO PUT AN END TO HOMELESSNESS WITHIN A DECADE.

LIFE ON THE STREET IS NOT EASY. JUST ASK ANYONE WHO CALLS A PARK BENCH OF AN INTERSTATE OVERPASS - HOME.
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VOLUNTEERS WITH THE HOMELESS COALTION OF THE GULF COAST RECENTLY CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN MOBILE. THEY ASK QUESTIONS RANGING FROM A PERSONS AGE TO WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES THEY NEED.
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VOLUNTEER SHERRY ATCHISON HAS BEEN COUNDUCTING A CENSUS OF THE BAY AREA'S HOMELESS POPULATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SHE HAS NOTICED A DISTURBING TREND AMONG MOBILE'S HOMELESS POPULATION.
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THE VOLUNTEERS SEARCH FOR THE HOMELESS ANYWHERE THEY CAN, UNDER BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES, VACANT BUILDINGS AND IN THICK OVERGROWTH.
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THE MORE PEOPLE INCLUDED IN THE COUNT, THE MORE FEDERAL FUNDS THE HOMELESS COALITION CAN RECEIVE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICES AND ESTABLISH NEW PROGRAMS. AGAIN, VOLUNTEER SHERRY ATCHISON.
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FOR THIS MAN WHO LIVES ON MOBILE'S STREETS - HE SAYS IT IS NOT THE WAY HE WANTS TO LIVE THE REST OF HIS LIFE. IN FACT, HE SAYS HE IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF A LIFESTYLE WHERE DANGER LURKS AROUND EVERY CORNER. /CLYDE3/
A RECENT SURVEY OF MOBILE'S HOMELESS SHOWS MANY LIVE ON THE STREETS, WHILE OTHERS LIVE IN SHELTERS OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THE SURVEY SHOWS ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THE AREA'S HOMELESS ARE CHILDREN. THE COALITION HOPES TO END HOMELESSNESS BY THE YEAR 20-12. IT IS AN END THAT CAN NOT COME TOO SOON FOR MANY WHO CALL THE PORT CITY STREETS - HOME.
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FOR ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO, I'M CHRIS NEWBOLD IN MOBILE.

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