26 homeless in Royal City, 18 in Mattawa

MOSES LAKE - There are fewer homeless individuals in the county this year than there were last year, according to recently released results from the 2015 Point in Time Homeless Count.

Volunteers with the Grant County Homeless Task Force tallied 131 unsheltered homeless people during their annual count this January. The counts included 42 homeless children.

A person is considered homeless if they are living outdoors, in a vehicle, in an abandoned building or in a home or RV without electricity.

During the 2014 count, volunteers tallied 177 homeless individuals. However, in 2013, there were only 65 people counted, according to data from the task force.

The Point in Time count is held in counties across the country every year at the end of January.

In a previous interview, Steffanie Bonwell, homeless programs supervisor with the Housing Authority of Grant County, said the count is required to receive state funding. It also gives the homeless task force a better picture of the homeless population in Grant County, she said at the time.

The housing authority is one of many agencies and community organizations on the homeless task force.

Bonwell said 46 volunteers traveled throughout the county during the count to find homeless residents and hand out supplies including sleeping bags, tents, food and hygiene packs, clothing and portable heaters.

Of the 131 homeless residents counted this year, 47 were in Moses Lake; 26 in Royal City; 18 in Mattawa; 17 in Ephrata; 16 in Quincy and George and seven in Grand Coulee.

In addition to the 131 unsheltered homeless individuals, volunteers counted 45 sheltered homeless residents, or residents who had motel vouchers or who were staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Volunteers also tallied 64 people who were temporarily staying with family or friends, but they were not considered homeless for the annual count.

The homeless task force also helped organize the Project Homeless Connect outreach event again this year. The event was held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on the same day as the homeless count.

About 70 people visited the church that day to take advantage of hot meals, free haircuts, showers and clothing and other services.

Various agencies and community organizations were also present at Project Homeless Connect and provided services such STD testing, dental care, health care enrollment, employment information and veterans' services.