DECATUR - Efforts continue to combat homelessness in the community.

The Decatur City Council has recognized Sunday through Saturday as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Community activities are scheduled next week to draw attention to the plight of the hungry and homeless.

"The whole idea is to think about hunger and homelessness in the United States," said Lore Baker, director of Homeward Bound. "We think about it more in other countries, but we do have issues not only around the United States but in Decatur, too."

A "box city" will be constructed Friday in front of Grace United Methodist Church, 901 N. Main St. Participants will bring their own boxes and build makeshift shelters to sleep outdoors overnight.

Events begin at 4 p.m. Participants will eat dinner at the Water Street Mission about 6 p.m. and learn in the evening from educational programs and discussions before sleeping outdoors.

Community members are encouraged to buy basic items useful to the homeless such as soap, deodorant, toothpaste and hairbrushes. Supplies can be donated at the box city at Grace United Methodist Church on Friday evening.

Items also can be left at local pharmacies including Osco Drug, Dale's Southlake Pharmacy, Victory Pharmacy and Rambo Pharmacy.

The Decatur City Council took steps Monday to continue to combat chronic homelessness.

A recent study filed with the city identified 173 people who are chronically homeless in Decatur and Macon County.

The study was prepared by Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation in cooperation with Macon County Homeless Council and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

The chronically homeless make up only 10 percent to 15 percent of all homeless people, but they often fit popular stereotypes about the homeless, according to the study.

"They are the men and women living on the streets and sleeping in alleys or public buildings," the report stated. "They are affected by substance abuse and often by mental illness."

Permanent supportive housing provides the "most comprehensive approach" to meeting needs of the chronically homeless and is less expensive than providing public services for people who live on the streets, according to the study.

The city last year was awarded a $500,000 federal grant in President Bush's campaign to end chronic homelessness.

The city council on Monday approved using $176,200 of the funds to buy and renovate apartments at 456 W. Wood St. to serve as eight units of permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless.

The housing is not a homeless shelter, said Mary Walker, executive director of the Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation.

"A shelter denotes that people will be passing in and out," Walker said. "The housing we are providing is permanent housing, so it will be a stable situation."

Support services and case management will be provided for those who live in such housing.

"We intend to be good neighbors," Walker said.

The council on Monday also approved spending $89,400 to improve a structure at 561 N. Church St. to provide permanent housing and services for up to eight chronically homeless people. The structure is owned by Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and will be called Antioch Safe Haven.

The council also approved $25,000 in grant money to serve as operating funds for projects to end chronic homelessness.

"We're looking at a third project," Walker said. "We're looking at additional sites as we speak to build some additional units."

Project leaders hope to provide at least 30 housing units for the chronically homeless with the federal dollars.

"This is another type of economic development activity," Walker said. "The contractors will be local people."

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@;herald-review.com or 421-7985.