By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
A state-mandated count of homeless persons in San Juan County identified 73 homeless County residents, compared to only 26 homeless individuals found in the same survey last year and 28 in 2007.
The number of individuals identified “unsheltered” more than doubled from 9 in 2008 to 23 on this year’s survey date. Unsheltered refers to men, women and children living in cars, tents, boats without live-aboard facilities, or temporarily housed in motels with short-term help from Churches or other organizations. The remaining 50 homeless people are being temporarily sheltered by friends or family members.
San Juan County Health & Community Services conducted the annual Point in Time Count of Homeless Persons (PIT) on Thursday, January 29th.
All Washington State counties are required to conduct an annual Point in Time Count of Homeless Persons by the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act (RCW 43.185c) passed by Washington State Legislators in 2005. The goal of the Act is to reduce homelessness in the state by 50% by the year 2015.
San Juan County PIT Count organizers and volunteers contacted local schools, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, support service counselors, youth groups, Senior Centers, Family Resource Centers, Sheriff’s department, Fire and EMS departments and many other community organizations to assist with this year’s count.
“These numbers are an estimate at best,” said San Juan County Health and Community Services Director John Manning.” It is impossible to truly know the exact number of homeless people and those staying with friends or family in unstable situations. However, it is fairly safe to assume based upon these findings that the number of homeless citizens in our community is on the rise.”
