By: Matt Scher, [email protected]
Humboldt, IA – The Humboldt County Ministerial Association (HCMA) has approved a plan to help transient people from outside of the area in need.
Rev. Katie Russell at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt says when driving through Humboldt, you occasionally will see individuals or families sitting out on the corner of highways 3 and 169, sometimes with signs asking for gas money or for a place to stay and the program approved lends a helping hand.
The “Person in Transit Needs Program” was recently approved by the HCMA with documentation and agreements sent to local churches requesting commitments to participate. The plan includes a $20 gas card and one night’s lodging in a local Humboldt hotel and is only to be used in cases in which short-term aid is needed. A “person in transit” is defined as a non-Humboldt County resident who is properly vetted and identified through the law enforcement center.
The steps involved for individuals who qualify for the program are:
1) A person(s) that makes themselves known to a Humboldt County church, the Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center or other organization(s) as a person in transit that is need of assistance, should be referred to the Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center.
2)The Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center is able to vet/validate the person(s). The Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center is open 24 hours a day and is able to process the person(s) needs and verify identities.
3) Humboldt County LEC will have gas cards (provided by HCMA) on hand. The cards will be given to the on duty/available Sheriff’s deputy which will deliver this aid.
4) The Humboldt County LEC will have Super 8 vouchers on hand. The voucher will be given to the Sheriff’s Deputy who will escort the person(s) in transit to the hotel and give the voucher to the hotel’s desk clerk.
5) The hotel will send the bill to the Humboldt County Ministerial Association for payment.
The program went into effect last month and has already been utilized once after implementation.