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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 2016)
FEBRUARY 26, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 HOMELESS, continued from Page A2 choice. It’s not what someone sets out to be.” A good portion of the meeting was spent looking at defi nitions and statistics, as well as the general background of the issue. For example, the difference between homeless and chronically homeless was explained. Homeless means being in a place not meant for human habitation or tempo- rary shelter, imminent risk of homelessness or fl eeing do- mestic violence. Chronically homeless means having a doc- umented disability and being continuously homeless for 12 months or experiencing four episodes of homelessness over a three-year period. Different housing types (emergency shelter, transition- al housing, affordable housing, permanent housing, perma- nent supportive housing and tenant-based rental assistance) were defi ned. Statistics showed a count of 1,660 homeless in the We are Everything Except Overpriced area in 2015, with the larg- est portion being 615 in Sa- lem. There were 95 homeless people recorded in Keizer. Of the homeless on the street, 69 percent had health conditions, which included mental health, substance abuse and chronic health conditions. Andy Wilch from Salem Housing Authority said in- creasing rents haven’t helped matters. “There’s a scarcity of af- fordable housing,” Wilch said. “What used to be affordable housing, there was enough in the private sector two years ago. Now the rents have gone very high in the private sec- tor. There is new construction, but it’s not affordable hous- ing.” Craig Bazzi, Transition Ser- vices manager at Mid Willa- mette Valley Community Ac- tion Agency, said he’s proud of the Marion County Re- entry Initiative, which helped formed the basis for the task force. “People I deal with are a subset of the barriers,” Bazzi said. “Some are incarceration and drugs. The initiative is trying to fi nd a solution that works.” Margaret Salazar and Kris- ten Arnold were on hand from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to talk about options. Simple Cremation $695 Inexpensive Burial and Funeral Options Pre-Planning Available Authentic American BBQ Dine in or Take Out 503.393.7037 Miracle of Xmas sets record By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes When it comes to a big event like the Keizer Miracle of Christmas Lights Display held each December in the Gubser neighborhood, there are things that can point to growth. On busy nights the line of vehicles waiting to start the route of Christmas lights can stretch to Lockhaven Drive. Another sign of growth deals with the food donation aspect of the event. After all, the event is a fundraiser for Marion-Polk Food Share, with canned food and cash donations accepted throughout the three-week run. Volunteers sign up to help with the collection every night. Brigett Eisle, who has run the event the last few years with husband Mike, revealed some numbers from the 2015 event at the Feb. 18 Greater Gub- ser Neighborhood Association meeting. Rick Gaupo, president and CEO of the Food Share, was also on hand. Eisle counted and found more than two-thirds of houses along the route were lit up. “We had waiting lists of people wanting to participate and help out,” she said. “We had to turn away 10 groups this year that wanted to help. We had so many people, we had a waiting list. If people can see what we’re doing, it just brings the com- munity together even more.” Another way Eisle knows the event is growing? She’s hav- ing to buy more candy canes to pass out every year. “We spent close to $1,000 for 23,000 candy canes,” she said. “It’s fi ne to do that, but that’s $1,000 we don’t get to give to the food bank. We’re going to really explore options to get those donated or to get a business sponsor to pay for those. When we fi rst took it KEIZERTIMES/Craig Murphy (From left) Mark Caillier, Jeremiah Ratliff and Brigett Eisle present a check for $23,424.77 to Rick Gaupo on Feb. 18. over, we bought 11,000 candy canes the fi rst year. We ended up having to buy more, but it wasn’t 10,000 more. It’s grow- ing and growing. “The other thing that tells us it’s growing is the check donation, which this year is for $23,424.77,” Eisle added. “That’s the largest cash dona- tion that we’ve done.” Eisle noted the 20,539 pounds of food collected this year was more than 4,000 pounds off of last year’s total. However, the cash collected the previous year was $21,837. Eisle presented the oversized check to Gaupo with assistance from 12-year-old volunteer Jeremiah Ratliff and GGNA president Mark Caillier. Gaupo was thankful. “First of all, just a huge thanks to you and the commu- nity,” he said. “The combined total for the life of this event is more than $300,00 and more than 300,000 pounds of food.” Gaupo called the Miracle of Christmas the largest of its kind. “I’m so into family and the community and the impact we can have together,” he said. “This food drive is the biggest community-based food drive we have, hands down. That is huge. What’s super impressive is the longevity of it. I love the (events) that are big and fl ashy. But I would give that up every single day for something that is sustained, community building and impactful. That is what this food drive does better than any other food drive I know of.” Gaupo referred to audience member Curt McCormack as the backbone of the Keizer Community Food Bank. “It’s such a great partner- ship,” Gaupo said. “Families come twice a week and get food assistance. That food wouldn’t be there without the Marion-Polk Food Share and Marion-Polk Food Share wouldn’t be there without food drives and campaigns like this. I never think of the Marion- Polk Food Share as an agent of change, I think of it as a conduit of change. You’re the agent of change. You gave us $24,000 for food. We give it to the Keizer Community Food Bank to give to the community.” Gaupo emphasized the MPFS uses what is given to it. “We’re not going to hoard the money,” Gaupo said. “There’s no reason to hoard it. It doesn’t go into a vacuum. It goes right back into the com- munity, the Keizer Community Food Bank and into commu- nity gardens. It all would not be possible without the commu- nity members. I’m so impressed with what you do.” City seeking volunteers for committees On-Site Crematory 4365 RIVER RD N, KEIZER “These conversations are so critical,” Salazar said. “Over the years federal funding has decreased to address homeless housing.” Arnold went over Housing First, an approach to quickly connect those experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without precondi- tions and barriers to entry. “It’s a whole system ap- proach,” Arnold said. “This is their home, so they don’t have to think about living in cri- sis. They can think about the future again. When they can start doing that, it makes life easier and they’re more likely to engage in services because they’re not in a state of emer- gency every day.” Keizer Mayor Cathy Clark, one of the city’s fi ve represen- tatives on the task force, noted the next evening the large crowd meant future meetings will be held at the Keizer Civ- ic Center. The next meeting is set for March 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. The task force’s website (http://homelesstaskforce.net) has a variety of documents on the issue. There will be meetings ev- ery month the rest of the year except for April and August. At the last meeting on Dec. 1, it will be decided if the task force is done or if more meet- ings will be held. 1210 State St. • 503-362-2194 www.adams-rib-smoke-house.com The City of Keizer is solicit- ing applications for volunteers to serve on committees: Keizer Points of Interest Committee: This committee was established to identify, au- thenticate and memorialize sites of interest located in the Keizer area. Sites to be identifi ed may be of the historical, geographi- cal, botanical, or unusual. The committee meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. (two vacancies). Budget Committee: Re- sponsibilities include assisting the City Council in the ex- amination and analyzing of pro- posed budgets for the City of Keizer. The Budget Committee meets in May of each year. Youth Liaison/Page: Op- portunities are currently avail- able to youth for service on various city committees. Nominations are also being accepted for Volunteer of the Quarter. Please check out the city website to learn more. Volunteer applications and Learn how to help your community in times of emergency JOIN Volunteer of the Quarter nomi- nations are available at Keizer Civic Center (930 Chemawa Road NE) or you can request an application by calling city hall at 503-390-3700. Electronic ap- plications are available on the city website (www.keizer.org). For more information, contact Debbie Lockhart, Deputy City Recorder, at 503-856-3418. Applications/nominations must be received by March 9 to be considered at the March 17 Volunteer Coordinating Com- mittee meeting. KEIZER CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS FOR SALE Boardgames of Oregon Owner Retiring. Three years in game designing and market testing. Good home business with twelve sources of profi t. We can negotiate on: price, fi nancing, the entire business, or any part you might want. Call Glen Olsen for details at 503-983-8012 or email taegco@live.com. 2016 Training Sessions begin on Thursday, March 10, 6:30 pm Keizer Fire District 661 Chemawa Rd NE Take part in this 8- week class every Thursday thru April 28 Register at KeizerCert.org or Contact Linda Pantalone at 503-551-2648 lpantalone@comcast.net OR Mike Dye at 503-390-3133 mdye1680@msn.com 0226 HEALTH & BEAUT Y Got Knee Pain? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 800-349-1450 ONAC SERVICES VENDORS INVITED RIVERfair, the community event, will be held at Keizer Rapids Park on Saturday, August 13. Vendors are now being signed up for this one-day event that will benefi t Keizer organizations and fund vocational scholarships for Keizer students 10’ x 10’ vendor space is $75— $50 if paid by June 1, 2016 Call 503-390-6840 or visit riverfairkeizer.com to get information or get a registration form. RIVERfair is presented by Making Keizer Better Foundation, a non-profi t organization DIVORCE $155. Complete preparation. Includes children, custody, support, property and bills division. No court appearances. Divorced in 1-5 weeks possible. 503-772-5295. www.paralegalalternatives.com legalalt@msn.com ONAC SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. Unable to work? Denied benefi ts? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1-800-990-1338 to start your application today! ONAC MISCELLANEOUS DISH TV 190 channels plus Highspeed Internet Only $49.94/mo! Ask about a 3 year price guarantee & get Netfl ix included for 1 year! 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