Violence is seldom seen at Hope Haven, according to the shelter’s executive director, Lesly Wicks.

Those who wish to come to Hope Haven, 1145 Rushmoore Drive, must first go through an “intake process” where their history – criminal and otherwise – is checked out, Wicks said. The man or woman seeking aid must verify he or she is from DeKalb County. Hope Haven also checks to see if the person in need is on Illinois’ list of sex offenders, has a warrant out for arrest or has a history of violent or sexual offences.

“If they have a really extensive history of violence or sexual offences, we wouldn’t take them in, unless they could prove that they’ve been through a program and they have been rehabilitated,” Wicks said. “We make a determination that they’re not a danger to other residents.”

Wicks said some residents of Hope Haven do have a history of violence, but they were admitted because they were able to prove they had been to anger management and counseling. Wicks said when the homeless shelter feels someone with a history of violence has been adequately rehabilitated, that person can be admitted. Hope Haven also provides counseling and therapy sessions to its residents. According to a set of guidelines by the Illinois Department of Human Services, a supportive housing program must provide residents with case management services, where the program coordinates the acquisition. The program also details the provisions of delivery and use of supportive services such as counseling and advocacy services.

“Hope Haven is a really safe environment,” Wicks said. “We have 24-hour staff, we have security at night and we have extensive rules to be part of the program. I think the structure really diminishes any acting out or violence.”

Some think homeless people are violent or mentally ill, Wicks said. However, she does not believe this image reflects the true homeless population.

In an Oct. 18 Northern Star article, DeKalb Police Lt. Carl Leoni said he did not have any recollection of a homeless person residing in Prairie Park being accused of or convicted of a crime at Prairie Park. In the same article, DeKalb resident Jordan Uldahl said he often sees homeless people in the park but believes they are just trying to get by.

“There are a lot of stereotypes about the homeless,” Wicks said. “The reality is that the face of homelessness is young families with children. A third of our population are children. The stereotype is that it’s a mostly male population that you should be afraid of, when, in actuality, most of our clients are women and children.”

The homeless shelter features 102 beds, only 30 of which are allocated to single male residents. Wicks said violence is neither an indicator nor a cause of homelessness. Instead, she said a lack of affordable housing and employment that pays a living wage is what leads to homelessness.

“We really have not had any kind of history of violence or resident-to-resident violence,” Wicks said. “People feel very safe at Hope Haven.”