The events team gathered at one of the tables during the town hall meeting on Monday to discuss upcoming events they could have in the community. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG – The community gathered for a town hall meeting at the First United Methodist Church to establish a set of teams with the focus to take action on homelessness in Parkersburg.

On Monday, the discussion on homelessness continued since the last meeting on April 8.

With guidance from Parkersburg City Council members Wendy Tuck and Zak Huffman, the town hall meeting began with a few words from some guest speakers.

“You know how every time you do something you want to make it better?” said Tuck. “That’s what led to the town hall which we held on April 8 at the city building.”

The meetings have progressed from mass open discussions into focus groups curated by Michele VanMatre. The teams included: events, mentorship, maintenance, professionals, financial, resource management and food. The leaders for each group were appointed by VanMatre but aren’t definitive since there are still changes with the process.

Another group gathered in the back corner during the town hall meeting to discuss what their team could do to put together their resources and help those in need. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“The overarching goal is to bring everything under a unified umbrella so that we’re not replicating services,” said VanMatre. “The goal is to complement not to compete.”

VanMatre stated that after the town hall meeting in April, they decided the next step would be to start groups that would gather and come to a unified conclusion on what can be done within their team.

One of the temporary team leads for the evening was Joseph Bradford III who traveled from his residence in Los Angeles to speak at the meeting on Monday.

“I built a company from nothing and now I house over 200 homeless people and I feed 40,000 people a year and I have a mentoring program,” said Bradford.

Born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., Bradford said he experienced homelessness when he was only 12 years old after his family house burned down.

One of seven teams discuss a plan of action to help the homeless in Parkersburg at the town hall meeting on Monday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The B.A.R.E (Balance, Ambition, Respect, Encouragement) company was started by Bradford when he moved to California as a way to help those in need who are on the streets of LA.

“You can’t tell me that we can’t do it because I was told earlier that this city has 200 and some people that are homeless, and I house that myself back home,” said Bradford. “I didn’t come from LA to tell y’all what to do, I want y’all to tell me exactly what you wanted and let’s create it together.”

The teams broke out into separate groups and attending guests had the option to join the team that they felt best suited their skill sets. Each team then discussed options, plans, and action steps that could be taken within their group.

VanMatre said there was a public Facebook group that everyone could join called PHAC (Parkersburg Homelessness Action Council) Volunteer Corps.

“It’s eventually going to be a clearinghouse for all things that meet needs for the unhoused and homeless in the community,” said VanMatre.

Michele VanMatre introduced Joseph Bradford III at the town hall meeting on homelessness Monday night. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

She stated that the goal is to lead with love and positivity and mutual respect during these conversations.

According to VanMatre, the end goal is to eventually take action and apply what was discussed during the meetings and help the community.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

One of seven teams discussed how to take action in the community which was led by a guest from Los Angeles, Joseph Bradford III. (Photo by Amber Phipps)