News Story 2

Homeless and Helpless

The Sad Reality of Growing Poverty in Beltrami County and Facilities that Reach Out to Help

By Amy Borgman

Poverty is an unfortunate and rising issue throughout the United States. Minnesota as a whole is not terribly burdened by the issue with the fifth lowest poverty rate in the nation. Although Beltrami County has one of the highest rates of poverty in Minnesota including at least 5,000 families living on public assistance at any given time. City officials have not overlooked these unsettling statistics.

Clothing, blankets, food, and empty cigarette packs show signs of inhabitance underneath the Mississippi River Bridge.

photo by Amy Borgman

 Bemidji and surrounding cities have developed multiple resources for persons living in poverty over the years. Centers like: The Evergreen House, Northwoods Coalition for Family Safety (previously, The Northwoods Coalition for Battered Women), Ours to Serve: House of Hospitality, and The Red Lake Homeless Shelter all work in unison with one another to better help those in need. The United Methodist Church also opens up their soup kitchen every Thursday from 5-6 p.m.

Northwoods Coalition is a safe facility for persons engaged in abusive relationships to take refuge. Located at 1101 Beltrami Ave.

 photo by Amy Borgman

The most frightening aspect of the poverty in Beltrami County is the high rate of children who are impoverished. Bemidji Pioneer writer, Brad Swenson, stated in an article last October that nearly one fourth of the children in Beltrami County are living in poverty. Thankfully, The Evergreen House has been helping Bemidji youth for 30+ years. They take in children ages 9 through 17, offer recovery services for boys ages 14 through 18, and offer family counseling. Bill Maddox of the Evergreen House states, “Most of the people we see come in here are runaways or in need of transitional housing. Although, a lot of kids are able to make it into foster families and we’re here for them throughout the process.” The Evergreen House has a sign that reads, “Safe House” meaning it is GLBT friendly and an overall secure place for young people to stay. The organization was founded in 1977 and is located at 821 Beltrami Ave NW.

Ours to Serve: House of Hospitality is another helpful organization that operates out of Bemidji. It is an alternative housing facility on Mississippi Ave in downtown Bemidji. They run background checks on potential tenants and cater to those without histories of drug or alcohol addictions. It’s a type a safe house for those living in poverty and in need of assisted living.  The organization is also opening a second larger housing facility on Irvine Ave. 

Ours To Serve, House of Hospitality has strict regulations on entering their facility without the consent of the inhabitants, which is good to insure safety.

photo by Amy Borgman

The new House of Hospitality edition, Village of Hope is estimated to be able to house 28 homeless individuals.

photo by Amy Borgman

 The House of Hope is projected to be a very helpful and necessary facility in the future of growing poverty. Executive director of the project, Rebecca Hoffman, has been fighting for the project for years and was proud to break ground on it on April 29 2010.The project is nearly finished now, and will shed hope for many of those living in poverty in Bemidji.

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