Census counts Key Pen’s homeless population

By Sharon Hicks, KP News

In January, Key Peninsula was part of a countywide annual census of homeless people. The census, coordinated by the Pierce County Coalition for the Homeless, has been taking place for 12 years to find out just where the majority of homeless are. This year’s homeless count had stations set up in Home, Puyallup, Eatonville and downtown Tacoma, maintaining a 24-hour count on Jan. 24 and 25. Lakebay Community Church in Home was the only station set up on the west side of the Tacoma Narrows.

Linda Brewer, coordinator from the Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor that provided volunteers as well as supplies for the census, speaks to one of the volunteers. Photo by Karina Whitmarsh

The coalition, comprised of different cities and government organizations, provides services needed for the homeless. The goal of the census is to obtain a number of homeless for housing and urban development in order to plan future housing and services.

This year, 15 people showed up at Lakebay Community Church for the census, which also included a giveaway of food and supplies. Diane and Howard Johnson of the M &M  (mingle and minister) Ministries, who provided food items to those who came, have been volunteering nearly four years at the Lakebay Church to provide weekly food and personal items for people in need. Fundraisers by the Festival of Hope volunteers of Chapel Hill in Gig Harbor come up with clothing, blankets, socks, mittens and other items. Leftover vegetables are donated by Harbor Green, some food from the FISH food bank  and day-old bread from Panera Bakery, all located in Gig Harbor. Many vegetables come from the local community and much from the Gig Harbor Church of Latter Day Saints.

Rae Anne Giron of the Pierce County Community and Housing Programs said her agency tries to work with the sheriff’s department to find out where these homeless are on the rural Key Pen. She acknowledges it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The agency also recruits volunteers for the count by word of mouth and newspaper ads.

Many of the homeless people around the county are house in shelters when room is available, while others are on their own.  According to Giron, most homeless live that way by choice, while others do not have the capacity to make a choice or may have just become victims of a disaster.

M&M Ministries and other organizations collected groceries to give away at the event. Photo by Karina Whitmarsh

 

The Key Peninsula’s homeless choose that lifestyle for various reasons and come from different walks of life. One of those who came to the census, a 60-year-old man, told the KP News he has been homeless for three to four years, is a master carpenter but has no vehicle or license. He came in on a sloop a year ago and now lives in the woods in a homemade tent with a friend. He chose the peninsula because he has friends and needed a place for his boat, which he was forced to sell. He has been jobless four months now and continues to seek food and companionship on Thursdays through the M&M volunteers at the Lakebay Community Church.

Final numbers of this year’s count were not available at press time. Last year’s count was 1,596 for both the shelters and those living on the streets. This year’s number is expected to far exceed that number.

Organizers and volunteers address the small crowd at the Lakebay Community Church. Photo by Karina Whitmars

One of those who came to a census, an elderly man, has been living in a tent for several years. Photo by Karina Whitmarsh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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