Small towns confront an urban problem

"Churches are the only places some communities will let provide shelter," says Mr. Hanafee. "They are constitutionally protected in doing it." The PADS churches' mission is to keep people from freezing to death, says Jack Nichols, director of the McHenry County PADS. In McHenry County, the United Way contributes 10 percent and the federal government another 10 percent. Foundations, businesses, churches, and individuals supply the rest.

For 15 years, Bethany Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake (pop. 25,000), Ill., has welcomed the homeless on Sunday nights. A large bequest recently enabled members to add on a community room, where 45 people can sleep and eat - and use a washer and dryer, showers, and large bathrooms. During the night, volunteers wash clothes and pack lunches. In the morning, they serve breakfast. On a recent Sunday, 45 homeless and low-income people came for dinner, and 39 spent the night. Nearly 100 locals take turns bringing food.

But overnight shelter is not enough. "There's no place for the homeless to go during the day," Nichols says. Some of them head for the library, others for bars.

Soon a new day center in nearby Woodstock, being built by McHenry County PADS, will give transients a place to relax, talk to counselors, do laundry, and store their belongings. "How can you go out and interview for a job when you've got to carry everything in a grocery bag?" Nichols asks. The $1.1 million center, funded largely through contributions, is scheduled to open in May.

Some homeless advocates insist that churches cannot be permanent solutions. Donna Bumpus, executive director of the Racine Emergency Shelter Task Force, notes that some congregations want their churches back. "I don't blame them," she says.

In Burlington, construction began this month on the first shelter, located above the thrift shop Morrow runs to sustain her agency. Yet even shelters represent only a stopgap measure. Noting a dramatic rise in housing costs in the last 10 to 15 years, Mr. Hanafee says, "The federal government must realize we need affordable-housing policies." He fears that funds for low-income housing will be cut as federal and state budgets face red ink.

He also emphasizes the importance of a living wage. "You can still find $7 an hour jobs, but you can't find $7 an hour housing." In Crystal Lake, an average one-bedroom apartment costs $700 a month. A minimum-wage worker in the state, earning $5.15 an hour, can afford only $268 a month in rent, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

Karen Buckner of Crystal Lake knows the tenuous nature of housing. Five years ago she was living with her daughter and son-in-law, caring for her grandson while they worked. Then her son-in-law ran off, taking all the money. Penniless and homeless, the women sought help from the Salvation Army and a transitional shelter run by PADS.

"Without their help, I don't know where my daughter and I would have been," Ms. Buckner says. After her daughter returned to work, they moved into their own apartment. Now Buckner works as transportation manager for PADS, driving homeless and low-income residents to shelters, jobs, and appointments.

For others, living arrangements remain fragile. Griffeth lives in a rooming house, found with help from Morrow and his former foster father, Gary Reed. He wants to earn a GED certificate and move beyond dead-end jobs. Looking wistful, Griffeth says, "So many friends of mine have everything. But I'm going to try to pull through this."

Another Burlington resident, a young mother named Jane, is also hopeful. She and her daughter and son, having fled an abusive fiancé, live in transitional housing provided by Love Inc. "Not having a particular house bothers the children some, but we do a lot of dreaming together," Jane says. "They know it's not forever. As long as we stick together, we're OK."

As Morrow awaits the opening of the shelter, she sums up an attitude slowly spreading across stubbled cornfields. "Homelessness is here," she says firmly. "We need to help take care of it."

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