WEST END HOMELESS COUNT UNDERWAY

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum editor

A count of homeless people in Forks and other West End towns is underway, and will culminate on Thursday, Jan. 24. The count is being made across Clallam County.

Ruth King of West End Outreach in Forks completed work Thursday in homeless counts at the Hoh, Makah and Quileute reservations.

She said on Tuesday, Jan. 22 homeless surveys will be provided and coffee, hot chocolate and donuts will be served at the Forks Community Center on Division Street.

West End Outreach is also providing housing help as part of a county-wide effort, at an office that opened on Jan. 9 at 51 N. Forks Ave., and works with clients from across the West End, including sections of west Jefferson County.
On Jan. 24 homeless survey sheets passed out around Forks and the West End will be collected.

King said the survey sheet questions include whether the person is a veteran,  if they are living in the woods, are they male or female, birthday, do they have any disabilities such as drug abuse or mental illness, and their initials. No full names are required on the forms.

The survey is also asking “where did you stay last night, what situation caused you to be homeless, what sources of income do you have,” King said.

King said some Hispanic residents of the West End are hesitant to fill out the forms, and thus may be undercounted.

King said she’s found the homeless living on the beach living in tents or just in a sleeping bag.

“A lot of families live in cars, are couch surfing and doubling up in homes,” she said.

“We have four shelters (in Forks),” King said, “all are filled, with the waiting list pretty long.”

She said in 2007, the count showed 438 people homeless on the West End “from the lake out,” King said, “with probably a bunch out there they didn’t count.”

“We need those numbers, it means more money to the county (for affordable housing)” she said, “but folks need to know what a crisis we’re in on the West End.”

The “Point In Time” homeless census is done anonymously each year and includes those on the street, people staying temporarily with others, those housed in emergency shelters.

The benefit of the count is its role in qualifying Clallam County for state and federal funds for affordable housing.
Serenity House of Port Angeles is overseeing the count.

To help find the homeless, free meals are being served in Forks, Neah Bay and other locations. Call 374-5011 for more information. Those taking part will also be offered information on housing resources.