Teddy Henderson's death Oct. 6 urged a group of Blacksburg residents to help the area's homeless.

BLACKSBURG -- In the four months following the death of the town's most recognizable homeless resident, a grassroots group formed to combat homelessness in his memory has gained momentum.

In a town where 4 percent of residents identify as African-American and where many fewer are obviously homeless, Teddy Henderson was known as the tall black man carrying duffle bags.

He frequented the Blacksburg library, the town's two mosques and was often seen standing at bus stops or resting on benches. During his 10 years in town, residents and even businesses reached out to Henderson, offering help and friendship. Many were devastated by news of his death Oct. 6.

A memorial service held at the library where he went nearly every day to read drew about 40 people. From that gathering, a community discussion group was formed around issues of homelessness and poverty.

Blacksburg library branch supervisor Cathy Prati said the effort began to create a simple brochure library staff could give to those who ask for help finding clothing, transportation, food and housing.

"We just wanted to take step one. We didn't know where it would lead," Prati said.

She said she and other organizers expected some interest but were surprised that more than 20 people, including pastors, community members and social service workers, have met twice and not only talked about problems but also brainstormed solutions.

While the group as yet has no official name, participants are considering posting a Web site to raise awareness of the area's homeless and very poor.

A third meeting is planned for 3 to 5 p.m. March 2 at the library community room. Interested residents may attend and register for e-mail updates through cprati@mfrl.org.

One barrier to providing services may be the invisibility of homelessness in the New River Valley.

"Our homeless population looks different. It's not as visible because you don't see a lot of people living on the street," said New River Family Shelter Director Carol Johnson.

The area also lacks a centralized homeless shelter. Consequently, many homeless move from house to house, doubling up with friends or family in sometimes precarious situations.

In warmer months, some homeless people have been known to live in tents in the woods or by the river. Mostly, though, they are invisible to the wider community, agency workers say.

What is becoming clear, however, is that as area companies cope with the economic recession by laying off workers, demand for already limited resources grows.

New River Community Action offers homelessness prevention and other services to the needy and has seen a 47 percent increase in requests for help the past fiscal year, Director Terry Smusz said.

Since July, the agency has distributed $93,000 in direct assistance to 114 individuals. But this year's funds are almost depleted and more won't be available until the summer, Smusz said.

While it's common for New River Family Shelter to receive 250 requests for help each year, lately, Johnson said, she's been seeing new faces.

"I think it's just a whole new group of people who are having to seek assistance," Johnson said. "The needs are increasing ... in most cases resources aren't."

Between Christiansburg and Blacksburg, six shelter spaces exist to serve homeless families with children. There are no shelters that take single men or women, however. An informal network of agencies, churches and charity groups helps provide restaurant meals, bus tickets and a night or two in area motel rooms, but it's not enough.

At a recent meeting of the discussion group, Redeemer Church Pastor David Vance described difficulties he encountered while assisting an unemployed man who needed food and temporary shelter.

Vance said he used the resource list generated by the group and even called state agencies in Richmond, all to no avail. He finally turned to a nonprofit Web site that helps travelers find lodging with local families.

Working through couchsurfing.com, the homeless man was able to find temporary shelter, Vance said.

This incident, the pastor told the group, has convinced him that some more focused grassroots solutions may be needed.

That story prompted Fieldstone United Methodist Church Pastor Bryson Smith and some of his staff to consider the feasibility of using the church to create some kind of temporary housing facility.

Bryson, who has ministered to the homeless in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., said he left the meeting thinking, "Can we just make this happen?"

"It was very exciting to see the faith community there," Smusz said. "They are definitely going to be needed as major players if homelessness is going to be addressed."