Open Arms continuing outreach to Albany area homeless youth

ALBANY — In its mission “to bring healing, hope, and help to children, adults, and their families in need of support, intervention and prevention as a result of child abuse and homelessness,” Open Arms is continues forward despite challenges with the help of community support.

Open Arms, headquartered at 420 Pine Ave., was founded in 1991 in response to the problem of youth landing on the streets because of neglect or abuse. There are several shelter and outreach opportunities, operated with a staff of at least 50 people, already active in meeting that goal with the hope the organization can continue to expand.

“Our focus is abused, neglected children and families up to age 24,” said Rosalynn Fowler-Fliggins, associate executive director at Open Arms.

The Bridge, for example, accommodates and serves abused and homeless children up to age 18, and provides necessities until a permanent home is found. There is also the Basic Center Program for runaway and homeless youth that provides shelter for up to 21 days, addressing immediate needs until a reunion with family members or an alternative living arrangement can be made.

The Transitional Living Program is for older homeless youth unable to return to their homes, and Open Arms can prepare them to live independently.

This is in addition to a new program known as Rapid Rehousing, which provides 30-day shelter support for runaway or homeless youth so they can be put back on their own feet. Meanwhile, outreach efforts are ongoing to get troubled youngsters off the street.

Outreach can range from circumstances in which a parent or guardian has kicked a child out, to a youngster found living alone in a vacant structure going hungry and without access to clean clothes.

“There are so many kids that are homeless or on the street,” said Open Arms Executive Director Fonda Thompson. “Some think there are no runaway and homeless youth.

“We wish we didn’t have to be here.”

It is hard to determine how many homeless children are in the Albany area, but it has been confirmed that there are least 452 students in the Dougherty County School System without a place to live.

“That is just children,” Thompson said. “What happens when there is a mother and a child and there is no place to go?”

Open Arms has three shelters with a total capacity of 35. For the last several years, all 35 spots have been full.

“We have had to turn some people away,” Fowler-Fliggins said.

When there are no open slots, individuals needing help are sent to other facilities such as the Salvation Army and the Albany Rescue Mission. An attempt is made to connect them to other means of assistance through the use of collaboration.

Open Arms officials hope they may be able to expand. The challenge will be availability in monetary resources, especially if recently-proposed federal budget cuts stand. Applying for grants is a continuous process, but grants can sometimes be lost.

“The need is growing while some of the resources are not,” Fowler-Fliggins said.

The economy has an impact on the need, and many are unaware of the help that is out there for them. Generational poverty and substance abuse are also common causes for the need, neither of which is an easy problem for an individual to solve on their own.

Economic circumstances also impacted giving during the Great Recession, since limited day-to-day expenses have to take priority over charitable contributions. Over the last two years, however, Open Arms has seen evidence of a rebound.

A rebound was particularly evident earlier in the year after Southwest Georgia experienced severe weather in January.

“When we had the (Jan. 22) tornado, we were able to take our supplies out in the community,” Fowler-Fliggins said. “People knew what we were doing and wanted to reach out and help.”

Donations come from various businesses and agencies, including Darden Restaurants, Panera Bread, Kohl’s, B.J.’s Country Buffet, Exchange Club of Albany, Albany Police Department and APD Chief Michael Persley. Police officers have lately made a point of taking youngsters to Open Arms before arresting them, while other organizations have been active in specific causes such as the Secret Santa done at Christmas for the children served by Open Arms.

“They have never met these kids, but they are gracious enough to help,” Thompson said.

United Way of Southwest Georgia increased funding for Open Arms when a new shelter opened, and personal care items continue to be donated from individuals schools, clubs, churches and civic organizations for the children to use at no charge, Fowler-Fliggins said.

Awareness of child abuse as a legitimate problem has been a battle. Progress have been made in getting people talking about it, but there is work to be done. Most of the families impacted by Open Arms are from the Albany area, but people from as far away as Atlanta have been taken in.

Organizations with similar missions, such as Liberty House of Albany, have been instrumental in sparking the discussion.

“In the past, I don’t think people realized child abuse existed,” Thompson said. “We have to work together to get the word out.”

Officials at Open Arms said a shower facility is in the works. A maternity group home is on the “very close horizon” as well as target street outreach, said Fowler-Fliggins, along with prevention efforts to limit the need for Open Arms services.

The reasoning for doing so is inspired in part by Frederick Douglass, who said: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

“That is what we are trying to do,” she said.

The staff at Open Arms includes people standing by at the shelters 24/7, and responding to crisis situation in the middle of the night. They treat the children as if they were their own, and they act as strong advocates for them. The young people live in a home setting, and do the same chores and homework their peers do.

During the most recent Daddy Daughter Dance, two male staff members stepped up and made sure the girls had someone to go with.

“A lot of them sacrifice a lot to take care of the children,” Thompson said.

The public’s support has played a big role in that.

“We can count on the community to step in,” said Fowler-Fliggins. “It is important to stress that.”

Open Arms is reachable at (229) 431-1121. An after-hours crisis line is available at (229) 431-0217.