Berea Council hears RITI update

Taylor Six, Richmond Register, Ky.
·2 min read

Aug. 5—Many stories tug at the heartstrings when working with the homeless population.

Jeanie Hogg of Berea Room in the Inn (RITI), she shared one on Tuesday night which brought tears to her eyes.

This past winter season, Hogg was helping a homeless man to get a room for the evening through RITI and he said he had only heard of it just three weeks before it was set to close.

RITI is a rotating shelter and meal program for individuals experiencing homelessness which runs for a few months out of the year. At the time, the man had been living under a bridge.

"He came in, no eye contact, and wouldn't look up," Hogg recalled. "I thought to myself that night, 'I sure hope he comes back.'"

Typically, after their night's stay, participants in RITI have to leave throughout the day.

The next night, Hogg was anxiously looking for her friend from the night before.

"Finally I said his name, and he said, 'I am right here!' And the hotel had allowed him to stay. They didn't have him check out. He had showered, shaved, cut his hair — I didn't even recognize him. He had slept for 24 hours. It was amazing, it was a blessing to see and that we were able to help him."

This man was one of 140 different individuals experiencing homelessness in the area and called upon RITI for help. Last year, RITI ran for 69 days.

With COVID-19, RITI was made more difficult since they could not gather in masse, and use the churches for potlucks or shelter for their participants.

With the help of Donna Angel of Berea Tourism and Development and the Kentucky Housing Authority, RITI staff were fortunate to find the Creekside Lodge to serve.

Of those they were able to serve this year, 56% were male, and 44% were female and ranged in ages 25 to 61.

According to Hogg, the participants were predominantly white. Eight veterans used the services of RITI, as well as eight children.

In addition, 26 guests were victims of domestic violence and eight guests were actively fleeing a violent relationship.

Hogg said most of the persons using the services were from the city of Berea.

"These are our people," she said.

For more information, visit the Berea RITI Facebook page.

Other business:

—The Allen Company was approved for a bid for the repair of maintenance of various streets in the amount of $270,129.24.

—171 Hendon Lane was approved for a zone change from planned urban development to agricultural with a unanimous second reading.

—Jeff Harness was hired in the Codes and Planning Department. He was formerly a police officer with Berea for 13 years.