Survey shows more than 70 people homeless

Sisters is not immune to homelessness. Fifty-three adults and 19 children under the age of 18 were counted as homeless on January 25.

The one-day homeless count spearheaded by NeighborImpact was conducted throughout Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties and identified 2,010 individuals as homeless. Results of the survey published by the Homeless Leadership Council (HLC) found that of the Central Oregon households surveyed, 56 percent reported they were homeless because they cannot afford rent. Seventy-nine percent of the homeless households reported that they are employed.

Reflecting on Sisters survey, Family Access Network (FAN) advocate Shawna Bell said: "It's literally just the people we identified that day who are homeless. It's certainly not representative of all of the homeless people" in Sisters.

Staff members from FAN, Habitat for Humanity and the Kiwanis Food Bank surveyed individuals who came into the three organizations on January 25 willing to disclose that they are homeless. Information was collected on a one-sheet form that was either completed by the individuals themselves or by workers at the three agencies. Rossy Gomez-Pullig from the Latino Community Association was at the food bank to assist the Hispanics who are migrant or doubled-up in living environments fill out the forms.

"Several of us went out to the mobile home park that evening," Bell said. "We interviewed as many as we could there. Many people living there are considered homeless because they live in campers and travel trailers."

While conducting the survey at the mobile home park, Central Oregon's NeighborImpact brought its Answer Van and handed out hygiene items, clothing and food. FAN also provided outreach, explaining its services for providing food, clothing, housing and medical assistance and the like.

That same evening Sisters resident Jim Long, the Community Development Block Grant Affordable Housing Manager for the City of Bend, went out to find

folks who live in outlying areas.

"We tried to hit as many locations as we could," Bell said.

Long canvassed the city parks, campgrounds, the industrial park and along some Forest Service roads where people tend to stay.

"In January there's not a lot of people out in the woods because it's too cold in the snow," Bell said.

Homelessness goes beyond people sleeping on park benches or in doorways.

"The actual definition of homeless includes anyone who does not have stable housing," said Bell. "We have teenagers that are couch surfing. They are no longer living with their parents; they're moving from friend to friend to friend's house living on their couch."

Families who are doubled-up in homes or apartments also fall under the homeless definition. According to Bell these families are not living together by choice.

"It's because they can't live on their own. We've had eight people living in a two-bedroom apartment, a 600-square-foot apartment," she said.

One of the major purposes of the one-day survey both in the tri-county area and in Sisters itself was to raise public awareness to the fact that homelessness is a problem in Central Oregon.

Bell is using the data to assist her with the affordable housing team she is leading as an outgrowth of Sisters visioning process. Bell plans to present the statistics and the reasons individuals are homeless to the Sisters city council in the upcoming weeks.

According to national statistics, 80 percent of homeless people work 1.7 jobs.

"The perception that most people are homeless by choice and choose not to work is definitely a misconception," Bell said.

Many of the individuals counted as homeless regularly use the services of FAN and the Kiwanis Food Bank. Occasionally some are eligible for a Habitat for Humanity house said Sharlene Weed, Sisters Habitat for Humanity Executive Director.

"There are people that would qualify for Habitat, maybe three or four families," Weed said.

For more information visit http://www.cohomeless.org.