Guest Opinion | Change is possible with our housing crisis

||| FROM HILARY CANTY for ORCAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION |||

The County released the Point in Time data for this year noting 148 people countywide counted as either unsheltered or at risk of becoming so, up slightly from 2022’s count of 146. Of those counted, 47 individuals are on Orcas, with 11 living in vehicles, RVs, boats, or structures that lack access to potable water, hygiene facilities, heat, or cooking facilities. Nine are living unsheltered and 27 are living in temporary unstable situations and are considered at risk of becoming unsheltered. According to Ryan Page, San Juan County Housing Coordinator,  99% of these neighbors reported that their last stable housing was in the County, meaning that this is where they became homeless. Many grew up here. Many are employed but unable to secure affordable housing.

The scale of the issue makes me believe change is possible. One of the motivations for the Pea Patch project is the development of a Day Use Center, providing a facility where unsheltered people could come during the day to have access to hygiene facilities and a variety of support services to secure the assistance needed to stabilize and bridge the gap to a home. OCRC has been fulfilling this role in a limited manner and recognizes that a dedicated facility would allow them the space to provide the full range of support needed.

I have always appreciated the saying that the minimum requirement for a dream is having a safe place to lay your head. It would be great if everyone had the chance to dream.