In worst times: Supportive, helpful place in between

Meet the Rev. Mac Hines.

He’s a pleasant man with a welcoming smile. He has a handshake and smile for everyone he meets. Most who know him well refer to him simply as “Rev.”

Hines is not homeless and never has been.

But he knows the faces of homelessness well. He sees them everyday.

Hines is the executive director of the Community Action Partnership’s Pee Dee Transitional Shelter in East Florence, a long-term transitional housing program for homeless individuals. Through the shelter, residents gain access to emergency financial assistance for necessary supportive services, transportation in an agency van and two meals a day.

Hines has been with the shelter for 24 years. In that time, he’s met and helped people who have fallen on the worst of times. Their stories vary, but for Hines, the goal remains the same — self-sufficiency.
“The reasons they are homeless are all different. It could be alcohol or drug abuse. It might be lack of family support. Loss of job. All kinds of things can result in a person becoming homeless,” Hines said. “But this is is not a permanent place for anyone. It’s transitional housing. We want to move everyone from Point A to Point B, and Point B is self-sufficiency.”

A resident may stay in the shelter for up to 24 months, but most do not stay that long. Most want to get back on their feet as fast as possible, Hines said. Residents of the shelter must be willing to participate in developing and implementing a plan to achieve that goal, whether it be through employment or education.

“I recommend education and acquiring a skill of some kind, because with a diploma and a skill, you’re less likely to repeat (homelessness),” Hines said. “Some of our residents are unemployed, but many of our residents are working, but they’re underemployed — they don’t make enough to support themselves or their families.”

The Transitional Shelter houses men, women and children. The men live in one building. The women and children live in a separate home on the other side of the central community building.

“We accept families, but the men still live on one side and the women and children on the other,” Hines said. “A lot of families don’t want to split up and will actually leave when they’re told they’re going to have to. I know it’s not easy, but these are the rules, and they have to be followed for everyone’s protection and safety.”

There are other rules, too. Residents have an 11 p.m. nightly curfew. Alcohol and drug use are not permitted, and those who have had a substance abuse problem are required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

“They’ve got to have that support system,” Hines said. “That’s very important, because when addicts turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with problems. So chances are, without that support, that’s exactly what’s going to happen when someone is homeless and jobless. They’re going to fall right back into the downward spiral.”

The shelter’s primary funding source is HUD, Housing and Urban Development, so there are guidelines that must be followed. Hines said when the shelter began, anyone could walk in from off the street. But that’s no longer the case.

“HUD has us do the intake process now,” he said. “People have to have a statement of homelessness, a photo ID, social security card, things like that. Most of our residents are referred to us by another agency like the Department of Social Services, the police department or the Salvation Army. We’re all a very tight network. We stay in contact with each other so we can know the needs and try to meet them.”

The shelter also has an advisory board made up of community activists and professionals who help raise funds for the shelter. One of those board members, Robbie Peed, recently volunteered to act as a job coach for residents. He’ll help the residents develop resumes and interviewing skills. He said he also hopes to help them find jobs they enjoy and excel in.

“There’s nothing worse than being in a job you hate,” Peed told the residents upon his first meeting with them. “Let’s sit down and talk about what you’re good at and what you want to do. Then let’s see if we can get you there.”

Hines meets with the residents on a regular basis to discuss job search strategies. He conducts interview drills and tries to keep residents enthusiastic and positive.

“Staying positive is hard when everything is going wrong in your life, but it’s important to keep that positive outlook,” Hines said. “I try to tell them all the time, ‘Get all your ‘nos’ out of the way before you get to your ‘yes.’ Because there is a ‘yes’ out there. There’s always a ‘yes’ out there.”