Any homeless people who find themselves in the area are welcomed by Hearts for the Homeless drop-in center. In fact, it is more than a place for them to stay out of weather.
Hidden beneath a Dunkin Donuts, the place is packed with four pieces of futon with an old TV set, a wall of shelves that holds boxes and piles of clothing, an office area where keeps all the documents and values, a coffee stand almost buried by stacks of paper cups, tables, chairs, a lot of cans, and a guitar hanging on wall.
“I didn’t think that we have homeless people here.“ Ginny Poorman said. She started the program two years ago after working with some homeless people in Pittsburg area. She was shocked when her friends stopped her talking to the homeless on streets. She said her friends felt uncomfortable and questioned her why she had to talk to a homeless. “I don’t understand why somebody would act that way.“ Poorman said.
Poorman got back to State College and found out there’re 20 homeless people sleeping in the overnight shelter. With more information came in, she launched the program after she realized there’re about 50 homeless people in the area.
Theoplus Clayton is one of the guests at the center. He was broke when he got here. However, he was not forced to become homeless. He chose to.
Clayton said he hitchhiked from Iowa to New York with a thousand dollars in his pocket after a man who claim to be a music producer promised to help him make his first CD. However, it was a scam. He tried to make his way in New York but ended up here, State College, where he thought he could try one more time.
“It’s not a flap house.“ Clayton said. He described the shelter as a place that you can go to if you’re trying to get back on your feet. “I’m not homeless to a point where I’m looking for a hand out,“ he said what he needs right now is a “hand up.“
Poorman and her friends ensured some free studio hours for Clayton to support his all-time dream – be a singer, and become famous. Clayton said his music is the only thing in his mind right now.
“When good things started to happen to me, I would find a way to mess it up.” Clayton said. With a long past history of drug use, Clayton has been to prison and always got into trouble when he was still a teenager. Now, he is a year clean of hard drugs. He is “the most helpful guy” at the shelter according to Poorman. He has been ranked as the No.1 Hip Hop musician in State College area, according to ReverbNation, an online promotion platform used by the music industry. “I’ m not going to let anything get in my way this time.” He said.