Missouri River Regional Library sees decline in homeless patrons thanks to increased social service resources
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri River Regional Library says it's made strides in better helping homeless people thanks to collaborative efforts within the community.
Library director Claudia Young has been at the Missouri River Regional Library for 29 years and tells ABC 17 News that the building served as a warming center for as long as she's known.
However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Young says there was an increase in the homeless population that the library was unable to support, reporting 90 incidents with unhoused individuals in 2022.
"During the most challenging times after the pandemic, there were patrons that saw things that were very hard and made them uncomfortable here," Young said.
According to the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care, the mid-Missouri homeless population has been on the rise with 533 people in 2022, 620 people in 2023 and 624 people in 2024. The organization also found that unsheltered homelessness has increased by 11 percent from 2023 to 2024.
During an October meeting Jefferson City police told the Jefferson City Task Force on Homelessness that from Oct. 1 2023 to Oct. 1, 2024, there were 481 unhoused individuals that were assisted with resources for mental health.
In response to this, social service organizations and church groups in the area began working together to accommodate the unhoused population. The Missouri River Regional Library is a member of the Jefferson City Task Force on Homelessness and Young has seen a decrease in homeless people using the library.
"The library worked very hard to enforce our patron code of conduct to work with local agencies. It was so important to me as the director that all people feel welcome here and they felt safe and they were comfortable," Young said.
Through collaboration with social service groups, Young adds that staff has been trained in providing resources to homeless people and directing them to facilities that can help.
"Librarians are in the business of information, when people are asking about the services they need, we are educated about what those services are here in Jefferson City so, the hope is that we connect people in need with those resources," Young said.
When asked if homeless people were an issue at the library, frequent library visitor Penelope Camp told ABC 17 News, "Causing problems? No, never."
Major Justin Windell of the Salvation Army, which also runs a daytime warming center, highlights the importance of such resources.
"When you're out in the elements and things, it can be draining; it can be physically taxing and emotionally taxing, so just having a place where they can come in and have warmth, a drink, a warm place to sit and stay and relax, that's what we're here for," Windell said.
