ROCKINGHAM — Two hundred and two is only a number, but for Paullett Wall, the number represents a blemish on Richmond County’s complexion — one she has devoted her life to healing.
Wall is the homeless coordinator for Richmond County Schools, and 202 is the number of students living in conditions that classify them as homeless as of the most recent count.
Armed with a major in criminal justice and a minor in psychology, Wall’s compassionate nature drew her to the job she said the county is fortunate to have.
“I was doing some mentoring at Hoffman when there was still Hoffman Elementary School,” she said. “The school social worker mentioned this job, so I applied. I just have a passion for people.”
Wall said most school districts don’t have a designated homeless coordinator.
“The job usually goes to another social worker,” she said. “But what this district did was create another position dedicated just to this population.”
Before the job was created, Wall had plenty of experience working with the homeless through her church.
“I was already involved through the Methodist Women of the Philadelphia community,” she said. “They had a monthly project that involved going to the Baker House to feed the homeless and we’d go. Then we started having a Thanksgiving dinner at the church.”
All her education and experience seemed to lead to her current role.
“Our 202 homeless students, that number is a shock to people,” she said. “They don’t realize how many we have for various reasons. We help at the beginning of the school year by providing uniforms, transportation and free lunch. If they encounter academic challenges, we try to get them extra tutorial help.”
Wall said the homeless students are automatically included in the Backpack Pals program, which provides them with food to take home on Fridays to make sure they have meals over the weekend.
“At Christmas, we make sure theirs is provided,” she said. “That’s done through so many businesses and organizations in the county that I can’t even begin to try listing them all, and that support lasts from the beginning of the year to the end. These children get birthday bags, hygiene bags, school supplies and uniforms.”
When people ask Wall what the homeless students need most in terms of donations, she explains it simply.
“I tell them that whatever they use from the time they wake up in the morning until the time they go to bed, that those are the same things these children need,” Wall said. “That if you use it during the day, they probably need that. Those are the types of things all of these organizations and different clubs donate. The outpouring of the community is so great here and is a big support for this population.”
She said people may wonder where so many homeless children are coming from, where they stay and how they manage to go on day after day. She said there are five conditions, any one of which defines a student as homeless:
- Students living with friends or relatives due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason
- Living in motels, hotels or trailer parks used to house homeless families
- Living in emergency shelters or in transitional housing
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, campgrounds, abandoned buildings, or bus or train stations
- Foster children awaiting foster care placement
“Here, reasons one and two are the main reasons for homelessness in the student population,” Wall said. “But we have experienced all five types in Richmond County.”
A comparison of numbers of homeless children enrolled in public schools in the Continuum of Care including Richmond, Anson, Hoke, Moore and Montgomery counties as of last month implies a correlation between homelessness and the degree of development in the counties.
“Anson reported 40 kids,” Wall said. “In Moore there are 315, Hoke has 101 and Montgomery has 40, like Anson.”
She said that a local pastor approached her asking what could be done, explaining that he wanted to do something but didn’t know what to do.
“I advised him to go through the program Pastor Gary Richardson has in place,” Wall said. “Without him (Richardson) I would have families who would literally be out on the streets. That (the Place of Grace) has been a saving place for my families. They approached me during the time that two groups were considering uniting and invited me, asking me to provide input for the numbers we have.”
Wall said she told the pastor who asked what to do that going through Richardson’s program would make things easier and less complicated.
“In closing, I would like to say how much I appreciate our central office for all they do to support our kids,” Wall said.
To help support Backpack Pals of Richmond County, email [email protected]. To find out ways to assist homeless students and their families, call the Place of Grace at 910-206-2339.
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @meloniemclaurin.