County’s homeless may be increasing

County sweep — Preliminary figures from annual survey conducted last week indicate more homeless than last year

   The number of homeless people in the county may have increased over the past year, according to preliminary results of the second annual Yamhill County Homeless Count.
   Groups and individuals throughout the county collaborated last week to execute the count, which utilized more than 80 volunteers logging more than 300 hours of volunteer time. Figures available Monday afternoon showed about 464 homeless individuals were surveyed, without taking into account data from the county’s schools. Last year, that number was at 404.
   “It does look like there’s an increase,” said Amy Burton, AmeriCorps volunteer and homelessness and community outreach coordinator for YCAP (Yamhill Community Action Partnership). However, she added, they might end up closer when all the results are in.
   Street teams canvassed the county from 3:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27. The homeless were also counted at numerous drop-in sites throughout the county, including two which offered community dinners. Individuals were also surveyed over the phone.
   Those who completed the anonymous survey, with questions related to their housing status and how they came to be homeless, received a snack pack and a hat, umbrella, pair of gloves and scarf provided by Love INC (In the Name of Christ).
   “This is a huge community effort and it’s amazing how everyone comes together ... from all over the county,” Burton said.
   The annual survey is an initiative of Yamhill County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, which calls for increasing affordable housing and access to county services, developing interagency partnerships, addressing special populations and improving infrastructure to serve the poor, among other things.
   Burton explained that this year, extra precautions were put in place to allow inclusion of homeless figures from county schools while still avoiding double counting. Last year, 203 homeless children were counted by liaisons in county schools, but the figure was not included in the total reported to the state, due to the risk of double counting. This year, the combined numbers will be sent to the state.
   “We definitely see the state accepting a much higher number this year,” Burton said. But it’s too early to tell whether the total tally will be more than last year’s combined numbers.
   George Fox University and Linfield College students will help compile the data into comprehensible reports, and the numbers will be sent to the state and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will use them to determine program funding. Groups and organizations in the county will use the demographical information to hone in on areas that need more focus and make sure the greatest needs are being addressed.
  Burton said some things that jumped out from the rough data were a large number of individuals homeless due to foreclosure or unemployment, as well as a need for shelters for single men.
   Surveys were still coming in as of Monday afternoon, and she said it was difficult to know where the numbers will end up. But if service requests throughout the year are any indicator, Yamhill County’s homeless could be greatly increased.
   In the last quarter of 2009, YCAP saw about a 48-percent year-over-year increase in people looking for services, Burton said. The requests cover all social service needs — housing, energy assistance, rental assistance and more — but the fact remains: “There’s still a huge increase in their needs,” Burton said.

Share   |   Email


Comments

We welcome comments from registered users. Comments are solely the responsibility of those who post them; their viewpoints are not endorsed by the Newberg Graphic and NewbergGraphic.com. (read more)
Highlight
ship name
 
dmbprogsv from newberg
2/3/2010 12:01:58 PM

Progresses took industry out of our country ,,the new deal ...when that happened these people who have no job can thank them for it...all while they PRETEND to care for them...this was planned...if you dont have the jobs what happens? Thank enviromentalsits too,,with extreamviews that make NO sense towards industry they force them out of the country...I am pretty sure wont allow this one for long as you delete most comments soon after...but at least you know the truth ..check me out ..look at what the new deal and gold had to do with where we are at...

Related Articles

(last 7 days)