DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Decatur city officials are responding to concerns of homeless outreach organizations being left out of the budget for the fiscal year 2026.
Sue Terrell, director of Hands Across Decatur, says that food and shelter demands have been rising steadily this year, and the denial for funding again by city leaders has made the ability for them to help a struggle at a time when their services will be needed the most.
“Helping people with medication and helping people to get off the street if this weather is cold. People who live in their car because they can’t get to work or get somewhere to stay. We help them put gas in their car so they can go to and from work or they live in their car,” Terrell explained.
Terrell says HAD relies on donations from other sources, but said money is tight as she has cut down on rental space. Terrell is asking city officials for an answer as to why the city won’t fund the homeless outreach organizations, but will spend millions on Rock the South.
“If it wasn’t for Hands Across Decatur or N.C.C. or C.C.C. or T.V.O., where would the city be then?” said Terrell.
A spokesperson for the City of Decatur provided a statement to News 19 in response:
For the fourth consecutive year, the Decatur City Council discussed and approved a Fiscal Year budget that kept funding unchanged for outside agencies and nonprofit organizations. The City maintains consistent standards of accountability and transparency throughout the nonprofit and outside agency application process. We encourage any agency to seek support from the Decatur Community Development Department, which continues to assist agencies in strengthening their operations, applying for grants, and broadening their reach.
Terrell told News 19 that closing the operation is now a real possibility, but, in the meantime, she will pressure the incoming city mayor and council members to realize the time is now to get involved.
Incoming District 4 City Council Member Pam Werstler replied with a statement:
“I can’t yet speak on Hands Across Decatur or any other agency in Decatur that works with the homeless. What I can say is that while campaigning, people in district 4 mentioned the homeless. So, it is an issue to the constituents and therefore an issue to me.
I plan on talking with all the organizations that deal with the homeless. I tend to look at treating the underlying causes and not just the symptoms.
We have temporary homelessness where someone suffers an adverse action such as losing a job and as a result, they can’t afford their rent.
Then we have chronic homelessness who haven’t worked in years and have run out of options. Often, they suffer from severe mental health issues, chemical dependency, or both. Often their families have washed their hands of them due to broken promises and poor treatment over the years.
The country as a whole is not dealing with mental health issues very well. I strongly support programs that help those with mental health issues. The goal is to assist as many homeless as we can to become contributing citizens again. However, the individual has to want it and even then, it is hard.
As I mentioned before, one key is the restoration of identification. The homeless have often lost their IDs or let them expire. One cannot get a job without them.”
Pam Werstler
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