Transitional housing replacing shelters

Task force created to implement plan for ending homelessness

GRANT COUNTY —Transitional housing programs rather than emergency shelters are becoming the preferred method of ending homelessness in counties across the state.

A Grant County task force made up of 13 members from nonprofit and local government agencies presented a plan to county officials in December, aimed at eradicating homelessness.

As stated in House Bill 2163, passed in the 2005 legislative session, task forces are to be created across the state to advise county and city officials of a proposed housing plan for their respective jurisdictions.

The legislation states the goal is to end homelessness in Washington by 2015.

"What they're trying to get away from is building bigger and bigger shelters because that's not a permanent solution," said Tom Bonnington, a representative with the North Columbia Community Action Council. "Homelessness is a temporary problem, hopefully, but the people in shelters become the permanent problem because you're not doing anything to keep them off the street."

The action council is the lead agency for Grant County in creating a local task force.

The legislation mandates the task force include a representative from the county; one from the largest city in the county; at least one homeless or formerly homeless person; and a representative of a nonprofit organization who has experience with low income housing.

Director of Grant Mental Health Care and task force member Sharon Kiehn, said that agencies often have shelters open only to the clients they serve which leaves "a gap for those homeless people who don't fall into certain categories."

The burden then falls on law enforcement agencies and emergency rooms when underserved populations of homeless people have nowhere to go, she added.

The next step for the task force will be to decide how to implement the homeless housing plan for the county and the money appropriated from the legislature for it.

Currently there is one emergency shelter and a 12-unit transitional housing complex located in the county. The emergency shelter allows a maximum 30-day stay for residents and the transitional housing allows up to 18 months.

The buildings utilized for both housing programs were built in the 40s and 50s and are in need of maintenance repairs.

NCCAC has discussed making upgrades to those buildings and the possibility of constructing a shelter for men, said Diana Weberling, director of community services with NCCAC.

Homeless individuals and families who utilize any of the housing programs are required to work toward securing employment, finding permanent housing and becoming self sufficient.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in 2005 a low income household in Washington state making $18,890 or 30 percent of the Area Median Income of $62,965, could afford no more than $472 for rent. That is compared to the Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom apartment unit in Washington at $757.

The NLIHC reports that for Grant County in 2005 a low income household making $13,335 or 30 percent of the median income of $44,450, can afford no more than $333 for rent.

Weberling says her agency aids clients in learning to handle day to day responsibilities such as setting up savings accounts so they can pay their bills and finding child care services.

"To help somebody become more self sufficient they have to work harder than we do," Weberling said. "If we work harder than they do, that's enabling them and we're not accomplishing anything."