A little over a month ago, Jeanetta Kent was homeless in her own hometown. Kent was born and raised in Indianola, and after her mother passed away a few years ago, she had moved to Leland to live with a friend. “It went sideways, and I had to come back home,” Kent said. “I came back here because it’s home, and even though I don’t have family here, this is where I’m comfortable.” Kent struggled in her return to Indianola to find work and housing. That is when a friend told her about the Sunflower County Transitional Shelter for the Homeless. Operated by the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Services, the shelter has been in full operation since late summer, and it averages between eight and ten homeless people on any given night. “Many people in this community do not know about this transitional center, and many people out there need this help, because it’s God-sent,” Kent told The Enterprise-Tocsin during an interview this week. Just weeks after going through the intake process to be accepted at the shelter, Kent started a new job this week as a manager at a local fast food restaurant. The shelter’s transitional program can last anywhere from six to eight months, assistant director Phillip McGee Jr. told The E-T, which gives Kent a wide window and breathing room to save her money without the stresses of worrying about housing. That is just yet. Kent, who has become very goal oriented in the past month, said that she has set a deadline for herself to find a permanent home. That drive, she said, comes from the financial literacy part of the shelter’s program. McGee said that is a key part of the mission at the shelter. He said that many people have the ability to save money, but that does not mean they understand how far those funds may stretch. “I wish we had more people like her or that everybody that we’ve dealt with have had the same mentality that she has,” he said. Many people have come to the shelter during its first few months in operation, McGee said, but not all are able to stay. That may be due to many factors, but many have not been ready to abide by the rules at the shelter and to embrace the transitional program there. Kent is the model, McGee said, for the vision that he and his father, Pastor Phillip McGee Sr. have had for the shelter since it was just an idea. For Kent, and the other residents, the day starts around 7 a.m. “Each one of us here, we pitch in and keep the building spotless…We eat, and most people go to work,” Kent said, later adding, “You have no want when you walk into these doors. You have your needs taken care of, three daily meals taken care of, anything you need, they’re here for you.” Kent said that most of the residents have secured jobs. Up until this week, she said she spent her days reading and occasionally watching television and receiving counseling from the shelter’s staff. “Everything here is safe and peaceful,” she said. Prior to joining the shelter, Kent said that she had her share of cynical moments, but that has changed. “At first, I didn’t feel that I had people out in the world who actually cared,” she admitted. “I was a complete stranger, and they took me in. My outlook on humans and human nature has changed.” After she has completed the program and has secured housing, Kent, who just turned 37, has big plans for her future. “Once I work and get me a stable home again, I want to go back to school and do something other than work at a restaurant,” she said, adding that she had worked as a manager at a McDonald’s for four years. “I’m thankful for that job, but that’s not what I see myself doing long term.” Just a few weeks removed from having no family, roof or job here in Indianola, Kent now has all three with the shelter, its staff and her new management role. The following is a statement Kent asked to be printed in its entirety about the shelter and its staff: The day Rev. Phillip McGee, family, and team chose to assist and counsel the homeless was a truly remarkable and blessed occasion. When faced with adversity and uncertainty God deploys his most dedicated servants to provide help. I believe he placed the right individuals in my life to assist me and everyone in the community that needs assistance. This establishment’s staff consists of caring and dedicated individuals who consistently strive for excellence in their roles. Our social worker Ms. Williams devotes her time to assist us in securing employment, housing, and proper healthcare along with many other needs. Our Kitchen manager Ms. Jones, who is tasked with planning and cooking three healthy meals daily, guarantees that we are well fed and our everyday needs are fulfilled. Our assistant Director Mr. Phillip McGee Jr. is an exemplary individual who, alongside our office manager Ms. Davis, ensures the center operates at its highest potential. Provides the community and residents with a safe, clean, and progressive environment to facilitate our transition toward better objectives. I feel thankful and blessed to have found this transitional center and strongly encourage anyone in our community requiring help to come and receive the counseling and mentoring services offered by S.C.M.A.C.S.
