(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) A nationwide report shows that homelessness is increasing in Missouri.
There's growing concern for homelessness in large and small cities.
"What used to be only a big city problem, is now a medium city problem, a small city problem, that people wind up homeless for a variety of reasons," says Randy Sharp, of the Continuum of Care in St. Joseph.
A report through the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shows the homeless rate is up nearly 14% in the state.
One reason that number is rising is because organizations are getting better at locating the homeless in rural areas.
"We're getting better at finding where people are, where people might be, or having agencies throughout the state contact us and say 'Hey we've got some people here that are homeless,'" Sharp says.
Experts add another reason for the increase is because of the people still displaced in the Joplin area after May's EF-5 tornado.
"Statistically, it's been higher in this area of Missouri than in other parts, but I think when you find some of your more populous areas, I think you just find increased pockets of homelessness," says James Whitford of Watered Gardens in Joplin.
Still, other cities like Springfield are seeing an increase.
"This year, we have more people who for the first time, have shown up in our missions. It concerns us when that number shows it's increasing. We have a static number of beds," says Jim Harriger, of the VIctory Mission in Springfield.
Here in St. Joseph, numbers have remained consistent over the past few years.
Some of those numbers are temporary, and others are long-term.
"There's a lot of mental illness there, there's a lot of disabilities, substance abuse, a lot of barriers for stability and it takes a long time to engage folks," says Sharp.
Throughout the state, those who make it into shelters, are thankful.
They say it's a chance to start over.
"Don't sleep underneath a bridge, don't sleep in an abandon building go to a shelter first because shelters have programs, they have clothing vouchers, they have food they have everything a person needs to get back on their feet," says Clifford Cookman, a homeless man in Springfield.
Experts say if you want to fight this problem, get involved or donate to charities who help the homeless.
Many of those organizations around the state don't just give homeless individuals a leg to stand on, but help them become independent again.
There's growing concern for homelessness in large and small cities.
"What used to be only a big city problem, is now a medium city problem, a small city problem, that people wind up homeless for a variety of reasons," says Randy Sharp, of the Continuum of Care in St. Joseph.
A report through the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shows the homeless rate is up nearly 14% in the state.
One reason that number is rising is because organizations are getting better at locating the homeless in rural areas.
"We're getting better at finding where people are, where people might be, or having agencies throughout the state contact us and say 'Hey we've got some people here that are homeless,'" Sharp says.
Experts add another reason for the increase is because of the people still displaced in the Joplin area after May's EF-5 tornado.
"Statistically, it's been higher in this area of Missouri than in other parts, but I think when you find some of your more populous areas, I think you just find increased pockets of homelessness," says James Whitford of Watered Gardens in Joplin.
Still, other cities like Springfield are seeing an increase.
"This year, we have more people who for the first time, have shown up in our missions. It concerns us when that number shows it's increasing. We have a static number of beds," says Jim Harriger, of the VIctory Mission in Springfield.
Here in St. Joseph, numbers have remained consistent over the past few years.
Some of those numbers are temporary, and others are long-term.
"There's a lot of mental illness there, there's a lot of disabilities, substance abuse, a lot of barriers for stability and it takes a long time to engage folks," says Sharp.
Throughout the state, those who make it into shelters, are thankful.
They say it's a chance to start over.
"Don't sleep underneath a bridge, don't sleep in an abandon building go to a shelter first because shelters have programs, they have clothing vouchers, they have food they have everything a person needs to get back on their feet," says Clifford Cookman, a homeless man in Springfield.
Experts say if you want to fight this problem, get involved or donate to charities who help the homeless.
Many of those organizations around the state don't just give homeless individuals a leg to stand on, but help them become independent again.
