By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A local coalition serving the homeless is trying to call attention to the problems faced by Butler County's growing homeless population.

There are 1,100 documented homeless people living in Butler County, which has a total population of about 335,000, said Kathy Becker, coordinator of homeless outreach and homeless services for Transitional Living Inc., a social service agency in Hamilton.

But that 1,100 figure was tabulated two years ago. Current estimates run as high as 3,400, said Becker, a Hamilton city councilwoman and member of the Butler County Homeless and Housing Coalition.

"We're seeing more homeless people living in cars and garages," she said. "We're reaching crisis proportions."

Becker and David Craft, CEO of Transitional Living and chairman of the coalition, gave a presentation on the homeless to the county commissioners Thursday in conjunction with June being the county's first Homeless and Housing Awareness Month.

"Butler County has four homeless shelters, and they're full almost every day," Becker said.

Causes of homelessness, Becker said, include lack of public assistance, low wages, an increase in poverty, lack of affordable health insurance, mental illness, domestic violence and insufficient low-income rental housing.

The county's homeless shelters can use cash donations, toys and games, books, and gift certificates, she said. There is also a need for volunteer workers, tutors and fund-raisers.

One of the coalition's main goals is to educate the public about the homeless, Becker said.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com