Dozens of school children in St. Mary’s do not have one very important thing – a home address.

Officials at the Three Oaks Center confirmed Friday afternoon there were many such children who live with their abused moms in motels in Lexington Park, the “Little Harlem” of St. Mary’s County.

“They use their credit cards to pay for the stay,” said Jean Harmon, who oversees the women’s component of the homeless shelter, at the office of Lenny Lancaster, executive director.
Lenny Lancaster, left, Laurie Joyce and Kathleen O’Brien – Photo by Ahmar Mustikhan

St. Mary’s County Commissioners heard last Tuesday from Lancaster that the county needs at least a 46 bed emergency shelter for battered women and that the center was spending $17,000 each year in motel expenses. But Friday, Lancaster revised that figure to $12,000 after consulting Harmon.

Though alcohol and drug abuse, coupled with mental health issues, contribute to homelessness among men, the case was different with women.

“Not as great,” Lancaster responded to a question on alcoholism and drug addiction among women.

Among homeless women, more than 75 percent were victims of domestic violence, Harmon explained. She said women had better safety valves when it comes to addiction as they seek out help and share their feelings with other women.

With the $12,000, the Three Oaks Center succeeds in buying 200 bed nights for women in the motels, where they are almost sitting ducks for criminals.

“It’s nothing,” said Lancaster, “It’s not a good way to spend money.”

Lancaster said the Department of Social Services has oversight authority, adding, “They certify the person who needs the assistance.”

Three Oaks Center is now planning to provide 20 emergency bed nights to homeless women and children at four different units in Lexington Park.

“Two of the four units would open next week,” Lancaster said.

At least three children were luckier than the rest Thursday night as they were with their moms at Leah’s House.

“We have three women and three children tonight,” said Pastor Marguerite Morris, the founder of the first women’s shelter in the county. She said all three children belonged to one of the women.

St. Mary’s commissioners were seriously considering funding the Leah’s House after Phyllis Taylor – whose daughter Ayanna was shot dead by her boyfriend in March 2004 – made an impassioned appeal to the commissioners to fund the shelter. Leah’s House got ditched at the last moment in behind-the-scenes jockeying for dollars.

Darlene Dowsey, 27, was shot dead by her husband in September and Suzanne Lee Combs, 35, in November 2004.

Women and girls who visit Three Oaks Center appeared highly vulnerable as witnessed on Friday afternoon. A male shelter worker was seen teasing a young female who had come to the center to leave her urine sample. In front of other men, he asked her if he could “help” her in any way. Harmon, however, said the female in question and the male were related.