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Results of the 24-hour count – which is scheduled to continue until 1 p.m. today – will be used to help social service providers determine local needs and qualify for state and federal grants.
“We need to know what’s out there before we can move forward,” said Laurian Weisser, a homeless advocate with Interfaith Works’ Sidewalk program.
Although the final numbers won’t be available for several weeks, coordinator Anna Schlecht said early trends indicated this year’s count would likely meet or exceed last year’s count of 566.
“My guess is that we’re at least at the same number,” she said. “At least.”
Because the recent snow and ice storm made trails more dangerous, fewer volunteers were sent out to check wooded areas for homeless camps. Instead, several hot meals and outreach programs were organized to help bring people out of the woods so that they could be counted.
In addition, this year’s census involved several “roving units” of volunteers who drove through business districts and neighborhoods. More census takers were slated to head out today to count people in social service offices, libraries and other places that were closed Sunday.
All of the information collected is confidential, and individuals are asked several questions including what factors led them to homelessness and whether they are currently experiencing chemical dependency or domestic violence.
“We’re not just doing a head count – we’re trying to network folks with services,” Schlecht said.
Volunteer Mary Vent and her father Torrey Vent drove around Tumwater looking for people holding signs, hanging out in front of grocery stores or possibly living in their cars.
Outside of a convenience store, they met up with Alan Dempewolf, 58, who has been homeless for about seven years.
He said he sleeps in a tent in a nearby wooded area, and feels lucky to have survived the recent snow and ice storm.
“When I walk to my tent now, it’s like walking on carpet because of all the tree limbs,” he said.
Dempewolf said he’s a Navy veteran who did three tours in Vietnam, and he’s thankful to be counted in the census.
“I think it’s important that any government know how many people are homeless,” he said. “It’s very important.”
NOT FORGOTTEN
The Vents were able to gather information on about 10 people during a three-hour period. In addition to talking to people near businesses, they stopped by an abandoned home with several broken windows and outbuildings to see if anyone was residing there. They also walked through snow and mud, and found some people who were living in tents and makeshift shelters in wooded areas on the outskirts of town. Nobody answered at a couple of sites, so they left information near the tents’ entrances.
For Mary Vent, it was work that was close to her heart; she was homeless for about four and a half years.
“I don’t want it to be like I left and forgot everybody,” she said.
The pair met up with Nick Heutmaker, 40, who is disabled and has been homeless for several years.
He said he’d like to get housing as soon as possible, and believes the homeless census can bring more resources to the area.
“People need to know how big of a homeless community there is,” Heutmaker said. “And something needs to be done.”
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433 lpemberton@theolympian.com
Online gallery
Find more photos from Sunday’s homeless census on our website. Go to www.theolympian.com/localgallery.
