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Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
Tribal survey looks at homeless numbers
The 2019 Point-In-Time Count
for Warm Springs will be on Fri-
day, January 24 at the Family Re-
source Center.
The Point-In-Time (PIT) count
is a requirement of Housing and
Urban Development program that
counts communities’ homeless
populations.
Data from the PIT count will
be used in order to get resources
for the tribes to address this hous-
ing issue.
HUD defines ‘homeless’ as:
“People who are living in a place
not meant for human habitation,
in emergency shelter, in transitional
housing, or are exiting an institu-
tion where they temporarily re-
sided.”
The definition also includes
those who “are losing their primary
nighttime residence, which may
include a hotel or motel, or a
doubled-up situation.” A ‘doubled
up’ situation is a place where a per-
son and his or her family reside in
a home with a family member or
his or her family.
A person is not considered
doubled-up if the person lives in
the doubled-up situation by choice.
If you meet any of these crite-
ria, you are technically considered
homeless, and the PIT team would
like to do a short, 10 to 15-minute
interview with you and hear your
story.
The PIT count program will
provide some small incentives for
those who participate in the count,
starting with a light meal served at
the Family Resource Center. Other
incentive items will be hand warm-
ers and wool socks.
The 2019 survey has been ex-
panded to attempt to gather more
data regarding the doubled-up situ-
ation; so that when government
agencies and non-profit organiza-
tions seek funding, they will have
accurate information.
For the community of Warm
Springs, this data can help sup-
port the issues that surround
housing. “We urge all those indi-
viduals who are doubled-up to
come and take the survey,” said
PIT count organizer Buffy
Hurtado, of the Health and Hu-
man Services Branch.
The information gathered by
Health and Human Services will
be used to improve services and
create different ways to continue
to support the community, Ms.
Hurtado said. “This may mean ad-
justing existing programs to meet
and provide services in a more ef-
fective and efficient way.”
The Point-In-Time Survey is a
tri-county effort—Jefferson,
Deschutes and Crook—where
many non-profits and government
facilities work to gather informa-
tion collectively.
“This information is valuable
when we submit grants and seek
funding,” said Caroline Cruz, gen-
eral manager of Health and Hu-
man Services. “It also helps guide
our community and create a di-
rection that will help us all in the
future.”
Why we count:
· To better understand homelessness in our community in or-
der for individuals to receive the services they need to get help
and into permanent housing.
· To determine the congressional homeless funding the County
receives.
· To comply with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development’s (HUD) requirements for Continuum of Care.
Last year for the community of Warm Springs a total 73 indi-
viduals were counted. Of those counted 27 were homeless and in
an unsheltered situation.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and I will
do my best to answer them.
Buffy Hurtado, Health Care Analyst, B.S., Health and Human
Services, 541-615-0141.
January 16, 2019
Voc Rehab 26
years serving
Warm Springs
Vocational Rehabilitation
has been ser ving War m
Springs for 26 years, hav-
ing started in 1993. The
program, funded by a fed-
eral grant, pursues the fol-
lowing goal:
To improve employment
for American Indians with
disabilities by providing ef-
fective tribal vocational re-
habilitation services. Some
examples of Warm Springs
Vocational Rehabilitation
Services:
Vocational counseling
and guidance. Diagnostic
examinations and assess-
ments. Assistive devices
and rehabilitation technol-
ogy. Vocational training.
Transportation ser vices.
Referrals to substance
abuse treatment. Job
coaching and advocacy.
Resumes. Traditional and
cultural services.
Examples of disabilities:
Amputations. Blindness.
Hearing problems. Seizure
disorders. Head injuries.
Paralysis. Alcohol and drug
addiction. Or any other
physical or mental condition
that limits one’s ability to
work.
Orientations with Voca-
tional Rehabilitation are on
Mondays at 3 p.m. at their
office. There are orienta-
tions on Tuesdays at the
Behavioral Health Center;
and on the first Wednesday
of the month at the Best
Care Day Treatment build-
ing.
One-on-one orientation
is available by calling 541-
553-4952.
Pathways Home
beginning soon
Pathways Home: A Native
Homeownership Course—
part of the 2019 Financial
Education series with the
Warm Springs Community
Action Team—begins in early
February.
The classes are Tuesday
evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the
tribal Credit enterprise. The
first class-covering the first
two modules, Exploring
Homeownership and Consid-
ering
Mortgage-based
Homeownership—is set for
February 5.
To sign up, call 5431-553-
3148. The course is hosted
by the Warm Springs Hous-
ing Authority, Credit, and the
Community Action Team.
This course is required for
anyone in the Action Team’s
IDA
program
for
homeownership. Through
Pathways Home learn:
Financing, purchasing and
maintaining a home; building
versus buying; mortgage loans,
budgeting, and hands-on expe-
rience.
Eagle art contest
for tribal youth
The Confederated Tribes, PGE,
Oregon Parks and partners are
hosting a youth art contest for the
2019 Eagle Watch. Submissions are
due by January 23. Youth can turn
in artwork at school.
Art is preferred with bald or
golden eagles, hawks, falcons, vul-
tures and owls. For information
contact Ranger Erin Bennett at
541-546-3412. Email:
erin.bennett@oregon.gov