How long until we see homeless camps in the Tri-Cities? Badger Club addresses the issue | Opinion
What do we really know about homelessness in our community? It’s easy to say,“ Well, it’s not as bad as Seattle.” Or Spokane. Or Olympia.
Or is it?
Look carefully and you’ll find people living on the street throughout our community. You’ll see them sleeping in doorways to catch a little warmth from under the door, or at least shelter from the elements. Look a bit harder and you’ll find people making a home deep in the brush at Columbia Park or elsewhere along our river. Out of sight, out of mind?
Ask a school counselor or teacher how many of their students are living in their cars or couch surfing — with or without a parent. How long until we see a highly visible homeless encampment like these next to freeways in Seattle or Spokane?
A Benton-Franklin Health Department study found an increasing number of persons experiencing homelessness and unstable housing in the Tri-Cities. This, while state numbers are decreasing. We know there are nearly 4,000 people enrolled in the Homeless Information Management System (HIMS) serving Benton and Franklin counties. Likely there are many more who aren’t counted because they haven’t accessed one of the social programs reporting to the HIMS.
Recent announcements by Reser’s, Darigold, Amazon and others tell us our already-tight housing market is going to become even tighter, especially for those earning middle and lower incomes. As cost of housing goes up, so does the number of people experiencing unstable housing or homelessness.
Beginning at noon Thursday, Feb. 23, the Columbia Basin Badger Club will present a free special extended online forum: Addressing Homelessness.
The first portion of the forum will take a look at what the numbers are telling us, presented by Dr. LoAnn Ayers, president and CEO of United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, and Dr. Patrick Jones of Eastern Washington University’s Institute of Public Policy and Economic Analysis. Jones and his team conducted a detailed study of homelessness in our communities for the Community Health Needs Assessment last year.
The second segment will look at what’s being done now in our community, with presentations by Jonathan Mallahan, chief housing officer for Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, which is opening a low-barrier shelter in Pasco. The Union Gospel Mission’s CEO, Andrew Porter, and Domestic Violence Services Executive Director Angie Pacheco will share their views as providers of local shelter services.
The forum will then turn to the experience of two who are heading large community-wide efforts to combat homelessness. Former Tri-City Herald publisher Rufus Friday is now executive director of a multifaceted homelessness program in Lexington, KY. We will also hear from Chris Patterson, a former HUD administrator who heads a Spokane effort to help those experiencing homelessness.
The final segment of the forum will be a moderated discussion with the panelists addressing questions submitted by the audience through the Zoom Q&A feature.
After each Badger forum, panelists and audience are invited to reconvene for Table Talk, a half-hour open-mic discussion session.
This special, two-hour forum is being presented at no cost as a community service. You can register at www.columbiabasinbadgers.com.
Dr. LoAnn Ayers is president and CEO of United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties. Kirk Williamson is president of the Badger Club and a member of the Community Health Needs Assessment/Improvement Plan Steering Committee
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