Second Chances, pt. 2

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana has an 11 percent homeless rate.

It may not sound like a huge number but it's thousands of Hoosiers without a home.

Many believe that number is much higher but it's hard for the government to keep track of those who fall between the cracks.

According to those federal stats, there are more than 650,000 homeless people on any given night in the U.S.

About 38 percent never go to a shelter; they sleep in their cars or on the street.

Ralph, 22, of Terre Haute is hoping to get a second chance.

He’s homeless.

"Sometimes I would walk around until morning then go to a friend's house to sleep for a few hours."

That all changed about one month ago when Ralph moved into the Timothy House.

It’s a shelter where he can stay for up to two years while he saves money.

The young recovering alcoholic says his biggest challenge is landing a job.

He applies for jobs almost every day but so far hasn’t gotten hired.

"Everybody deserves a chance if they're actually trying to better themselves, why not give them a chance to see if they can do it,” Ralph said.

Every day, he tries again, fighting the homeless stereotype.

"They would come to the shelters and use it as an advantage and not actually use it to better themselves,” Ralph said. “Use it to lay around and that's not what they're for."

"You don't want people looking at us that are actually trying, trying to make a difference with ourselves."

It's estimated there are maybe as many as 600 people in the Terre Haute area just like Ralph.

But some never reach out for help making second chances nearly impossible.

"There's a lot of shame that goes with it and people won't come forward and register,” Muriel Ryan of Families by Choice said.

Ralph spends his days looking for a job.

He hopes it leads to a new life.

"I look at things with a positive outlook instead of the glass empty. I'm starting to look at it half full."

The 22-year-old has big plans for his future, but for now he's just waiting for the call.

Many of the shelters we visited said it's very difficult for the homeless to get hired.

Click here for information or how to donate to the Bethany House.

Click here for information or to donate to Families By Choice.

How to help the Lighthouse Mission.

Click here for information on public housing.

Click here to learn more about child care assistance.