Lyons’ New Homeless Intervention Program Finding Success in Area
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The Lyons Police Department has been working with Safe Harbor to help transition several individuals off the streets into a stable home. Police Chief Wesley Walker recently discussed two local success stories of the program, and allowed these individuals to tell their stories.
Safe Harbor, which is currently headquartered in Brunswick, is an organization which works to provide assistance for children, families, and individuals throughout the region. The organization was first founded by Jekyll Island Residents Susan and Bob Hamer, who sought to create a safe place for runaway, homeless, abused, and neglected children in 1991. Since then, the program has grown significantly, and now features the STRIVE Transitional Living Services, which helps provide assistance for those struggling with homelessness.
To receive assistance, individuals are referred by the local police departments or by street outreach workers, who canvass the area and make the organization aware of those who need help. From there, individuals may be placed in a group home or receive rapid rehousing, during which they are assisted in getting jobs and saving money. These group home residents pay nothing for their stays and work to get stable and “back on continued from page
their feet” before getting an apartment and receiving rental assistance. Safe Harbor also helps to teach these individuals valuable life skills, aiding them to continue to improve their situations, and gives them rental and food assistance.
The organization first came to the Vidalia, Lyons, and Toombs County area two years ago, and started meeting with local law enforcement and city officials to attempt to coordinate a partnership for the program. Safe Harbor currently serves 23 counties, and is seeking another location where they might be able to take referrals of those who can utilize their assistance and connect those in need with services.
“We’ve tried to build that coalition in the Lyons and Toombs County area, and have started creating success around being able to put staff in place [locally],” Safe Harbor Street Outreach Director Jeff Clark stated, as he shared that the organization currently has both full-time and part-time employees dedicated to the Toombs County area.
“That’s happened over time in the last 2 years,” Clark continued. “Hopefully, in the next 60 days, we will have a permanent office here where we are able to serve people better.”
Clark said that the partnership has been very welcoming for both parties, as he stated that the Lyons Police Department had been the organization’s biggest supporter in the area. Walker shared his appreciation for the organization, as he stated that two individuals from Lyons had already been able to work towards owning or renting their own homes in the short time which Safe Harbor had been assisting in the area.
Emari Jones is one of the area’s most successful Safe Harbor cases, as she and her child are now on the path to entering their own home and supporting themselves financially.
“[Emari] became a part of our behavioral health specialist program through Shameeka Kent, who is our Behavioral Health Specialist with the Lyons Police Department,” Walker explained. “She came to Shameeka looking for assistance and was homeless at that point in her life.”
Jones shared that she had moved between homes for most of her life and found herself homeless as a result of a toxic relationship. “I came into foster care [when I was around] 8 or 9 years old. After that, I was in and out of foster homes [for years after] my mom and dad lost custody of us,” she recalled. “I was adopted when I was around 14 or 15 years old, but [my adoptive mom] ended up being abusive. So, I came back into foster care. It messed with me mentally, but I still knew who I was and where I wanted to be.”
A few years later, Jones met her ex-boyfriend, who also created a negative home atmosphere. After being encouraged by her brother to escape the situation, Jones and her child left the relationship with no place to live. Hopeful to find help, Jones spoke with Kent about her options, and was soon connected to Safe Harbor.
“They’ve encouraged me a lot and made sure I’m on track with stuff,” Jones commented. “It’s teaching me life skills – I’m even learning new things to cook, being on time, and being on a schedule.” Jones said the organization also helps to make sure Jones is able to attend her doctor appointments and has improved her mental health through counseling.
“They’re making sure I’m back on track so I don’t have to go back to that situation,” she emphasized.
She shared that the organization had also helped her with her education, as she was previously seeking her cosmetology license from Southeastern Technical College, but is now able to learn the trade through a mentor barber. “This will help me do something with my life and be someone,” she said.
“Being homeless is not for everyone – everyone can’t handle that and still have a positive mindset,” she continued. “During that time, you usually see people go towards drugs or mess themselves up. They think it’s okay to stay in that environment or they think it’s normal to be okay with that – it’s not. No matter what age you are or how you look, everyone has a life and everyone has a future. You just have to want to go with it. You have a choice: you can do it or you don’t. You can stay the same or not.”
Jones added, “[By] me keeping a positive mindset, I did have hard times and days, but I didn’t give in to that. I know who I am and who I want to be, so I’m not going to just give up like that. No matter how hard your situation might be, it will get better.”
She encouraged individuals struggling with similar situations to take each day at a time, because the future is never promised. She said that the best way to handle day-to-day life is to do what you can and hope for a chance to do it again tomorrow.
Safe Harbor Transitional Housing Case Manager Kailey Lane spoke about Jones, saying, “Emari has done great in our program. She is still working towards getting a job, but the strides that she is making are amazing. She is doing very well and we are lucky to have her. She continues to surprise us most days, and we have high hopes for her in our program.”
Another individual who found help to improve his conditions was James Stephani, who was brought to the Toombs County area from Swainsboro by law enforcement officers to escape violence. “I didn’t fit in up there,” he explained. “Someone gave me a ride from Swainsboro – it was too tough out there.”
Stephani was found behind the Lyons City Hall by police officers, who noticed the man was struggling. These officers asked Stephani about his condition, and then worked to find him help.
Stephani was referred to Safe Harbor, which has since worked to help him reinstate his social security payments, open a bank account, and obtain a driver’s license and birth certificate. The organization is now working to get permanent housing through a tiny home initiative in Brunswick.
“All of this is going to allow [Stephani] to be able to go into the tiny home project in Brunswick, Georgia. He will have the opportunity to get a permanent tiny home, which is custom tailored to his needs,” Safe Harbor Street Outreach Director Jeff Clark shared.
Clark also said that Stephani also currently has housing until he enters his tiny home, which he helps to pay for using his social security earnings. Once he has his own tiny home in Brunswick, Stephani will still receive financial and food assistance from Safe Harbor.
“It’s going to be so nice,” Stephani concluded.
Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker reflected on the success of the program. We are incredibly grateful for Safe Harbour's continued partnership with us and for being such a valuable resource in helping those in need. A huge thank you to Shameeka Kent for her work as a behavior specialist, helping facilitate this partnership and allowing us to collaborate with such an incredible organization. Together, we are making a difference—one life at a time,” he emphasized.
For more information on Safe Harbor and its work in Lyons, call (912) 526-3638.
IT ALWAYS GETS BETTER – Emari Jones has been able to save money and get back onto her feet because of the help of the Lyons Police Department and Safe Harbor. Jones encouraged those in her situation to remain hopeful in their daily lives, as she assured that things always gets better.
