The sixth annual "Point in Time" census of the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless is set for Jan. 29. This year it will include a housing resource fair offering housing, rental and utility assistance and employment support.
In central and eastern Clallam County, the Point-In-Time will be conducted on Thursday, Jan. 29.
In Sequim, the housing resource fair will be from
1 p.m.-6 p.m. at Glory House, 157 W. Cedar St., across from the Transit Center.
In Port Angeles, the housing resource fair will be from 12:30 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Independent Bible Church office building, 112 N. Lincoln St.
On the West End, the census will be Thursday, Jan. 22, with the housing resource fair from noon-4 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 250 Blackberry Ave., Forks.
Veterans assistance and other services such as medical and dental care, child care, clothing, transportation and pet care also will be available.
Point-In-Time survey forms can be completed at the fairs but volunteers also will visit places where homeless people are known to meet.
For the third year in a row, Peninsula Community Mental Health will provide a midday meal at Horizon House, 205 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles.
The Lower Elwha Tribal Center, 3080 Lower Elwha Road, will serve its soup supper from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 29.
Information will be posted on all 50 Clallam Transit System buses. Bus drivers will provide no-cost day passes to anyone needing a ride to a housing resource fair.
"We intend to provide direct assistance right then and there," said Kathy Wahto, executive director of Serenity House of Clallam County, lead agency in the 50-member Shelter Providers Network of Clallam County.
"We see this extra effort as needed now, with high unemployment, foreclosures and other factors making it tough for people to pay rent, eat and cover their bills. Maybe we should call this a ‘prevention and survival fair.’"
Services and resources are available for homeless and at-risk people, based on income eligibility.
"We can provide assistance much faster if people bring in identification and household income information, housing status, etc.," said Rayna Abrahams from the Port Angeles Housing Resource Center.
Point-In-Time is a federally mandated census conducted throughout the country during the last week of January.
Who to call
For more information or to volunteer, contact:
_ Sequim
Pam Soteros, Serenity House Housing Resource Center, 477-4918 or
sequimhrc@yahoo.com
__West End
Ruth King, West End Outreach, 374-5011 or ruthk@forkshospital.org
__Port Angeles
Serenity House administrative office, 452-7224 or serenity@olypen.com
