Huntsville's new Homeless Services Director, Charles Morris, speaks during a media roundtable June 2. Photo: Derek Lacey/Axios
One year after a "reset" at the South Derrick Street encampment for people experiencing homelessness, the city is making new efforts to house residents.
Why it matters: In six months, the newly-created Homeless Services Team has found stable homes for 22 former South Derrick Street residents.
Zoom in: The city announced Tuesday that Charles Morris has been hired as its first Homeless Resource Specialist.
What they're saying: "The end goal is housing, regardless of the starting point," Morris, who comes to the position from Priority Veteran, told reporters at a media event Tuesday.
The starting point may be a substance abuse issue or a workforce ability and income issue, he said, "but the end goal is housing."
"The difference between then and now is that it's intentional," Morris said. "Part of being at South Derrick is that you are required to go to case management services to maintain a space there."
Once an individual has a case manager, they then work on income. When both are in place, that person is ready for housing.
The city works with "an abundance of private landlords and private managers that work with us with these high-risk populations," he said.
By the numbers: Derrick Street can hold 58 individuals and 35 are there now, Morris said.
Scott Erwin, the city's community development manager, said there are currently around 575 unhoused individuals in the area, both sheltered and unsheltered.
He noted that that figure is a one-time count conducted in January, but said overall the numbers have been consistent, and "we are seeing movement."
