RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – While the Pine Haven Shelter is now staying open at least until the end of June it came as a shock to one resident that he is being asked to leave.
Residents are not supposed to reside there for more than 45 days. But state disability has been delayed, Jaybe Clower is in a wheelchair and struggling.
Unhoused advocates are concerned that the shelter’s alternate housing suggestions for Clower are a hindrance to his recovery.
“It’s messed up the way they are doing people and doing me, knowing my situation and how much stress I’ve been under,” he said. “I know they’ve been lenient a little bit to let me stay here but disability is dragging their legs. I’ve been battling this for three and a half years, and getting scared of being put out.”
Emergency Housing Center Director Mike Horn says it’s always their intent to help the residents have a roof over their heads and become self-sufficient.
“The goal is not to put somebody on the street, the goal is to house them,” Horn said. “That is what we are focused on. We will do our best with the resources we are given to do that.”
Pine Haven currently has 27 current residents and can house 30.
Clower says he’s doing what he can under the circumstances but feels lost — starting in Huntington, then Summersville, and now Beckley.
“I’ve been bouncing down from place to place and it’s hard,” he said. “This place (Pine Haven) should be able to let you get stabilized, have a little bit of a foundation, and then let you go out and leave. Not just throw you out for no reason or trying to find a lame excuse to put you out.”
According to Horn, if you are working toward housing they can extend that 30-45 day protocol a little longer.
“We’ll never put somebody out who is trying. We have a computer lab upstairs that they can access. They can use the phone here whenever they need to for work or housing. We can send them to Workforce, DRS (West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services). There are several different programs.”
Despite all the challenges and pain that Clower has been through, he’s not giving up and has more do to.
“I’ve come from a lot of places, got a lot of places to go, a lot of things to get done and do,” he said. “I can’t quit now. Everybody deserves something good and things in life.”
The shelter says they see people turning a corner to a better life all the time.
“We’re here to provide a service, but ultimately, we can’t sign the lease,” said Horn. “As long as they want to — it will happen.”
