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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2011)
The INDEPENDENT, June 2, 2011 Page 13 Washington County homelessness down slightly per census The number of homeless persons in Washington County, identified during an annual cen- sus conducted the last week of January, decreased slightly from 1,383 persons in 2010, to 1,356 persons in 2011. The de- crease reflects the coordinated efforts of community partners to re-tool the homeless response system and increase re- sources, according to non-prof- it and county housing officials. The downward trend meas- ured in Washington County comes as homelessness in Oregon increased over the past two years, according to Ore- gon’s January 2011 Point-In- Time Count. Statewide data show that unemployment is the leading cause for homeless- ness, followed closely by un- deremployment or inability to pay rent. Community Action, the lead agency in coordinating the an- nual homeless count, reports findings that mirror the statewide data, that unemploy- ment in Washington County is the primary cause for home- lessness. “High unemployment and housing instability are trauma- tizing to the entire household,” said Community Action Hous- ing and Homeless Services Manager Pat Rogers. “Afford- able housing is needed to serve the increased number of households now living at or be- low the federal poverty level.” Community and local gov- ernment officials point to the implementation of Washington County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness as contributing to the positive trend. Demo- graphic data on homelessness support the effective program development and strategic ap- proach in the 10-year plan to prevent and end homelessness in our community, officials say. During the January count, 328 households (39 percent) of the 839 interviewed reported they became homeless be- cause of unemployment or un- deremployment, including re- duced wages, a shift to part- time work, or a combination of similar factors. Inability to pay rent, the sec- ond leading cause for home- lessness, was reported by 316 households (38 percent). Of the 1,356 persons experi- encing homelessness in Wash- ington County: • 423 (31 percent) were chil- dren under the age of 18 years. Of these, 32 children were re- ported as unaccompanied indi- viduals. • 27 (12 percent) of school- age children were not attending school. • 737 (54 percent) of per- sons were part of a family, such as an adult with child(ren). 69 (8 percent) were veterans. • 141 (15 percent) were per- sons homeless as a result of domestic violence. • 146 (16 percent) were per- Tips given for using your grill safely The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reminds the public to use safe grilling practices as the peak months for grilling fires approach – June and July. Gas grills consti- tute a higher risk, having been involved in an annual average of 6,200 home fires in 2004- 2008, while charcoal or other solid-fueled grills were involved in an annual average of 1,300 home fires. “Summer barbecues can be a great time, but nobody wants to see the event spoiled by fire,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. “There are many simple measures you can take to prevent damage to property, injury, and death related to grilling fires.” In 2009, roughly 17,700 pa- tients went to emergency rooms because of injuries in- curred by grill usage. Of about 9,400 thermal burns, children under five made up about one- quarter. These occurred mostly when children touched or bumped the grill. For gas grill injuries, about a third were burns that stemmed from lighting the grill, while gasoline or lighter fluid was a factor in about a quarter of charcoal or wood burning grill burns. NFPA offers the following grilling safety tips: • Use propane and charcoal grills only outside – never use them indoors. • Make sure the grill is posi- tioned well away from the home and/or deck railings, and that it is not underneath any eaves or overhanging branches. It should also be far from any lawn games, play areas, or foot traffic. • Establish a child- and pet- free zone around the grill of at least three feet. • Use grilling tools with long handles that will allow more clearance from the flames. • Remember to regularly clean fat and grease off the grill and from trays underneath it in order to reduce the risk of it ig- niting. • Never leave the grill unat- tended. S TRASSEL ’ S A UTO R EPAIR & H YDRAULIC H OSES 2-4-6 S PIRAL W IRE S UCTION H OSES A DAPTORS - 3/16” TO 2” A MERICAN & M ETRIC F ITTINGS B ULK O IL P RODUCTS 276 S UNSET , B ANKS 503-324-9808 Gas grills: • Before using the grill for the first time each year, check the gas tank hose for leaks. To do this, apply a light soap and wa- ter solution to the hose and turn the tank on. If the hose releas- es bubbles, this indicates a propane leak. If you find a leak, turn the gas tank off. If the leak See Grill on page 15 sons with physical disabilities. • 231 (25 percent) were per- sons with mental or emotional disorders. The number of persons ex- periencing homelessness in Washington County would have been higher were it not for the focused efforts outlined in the 10-year plan to prevent homelessness, officials main- tained. Recent activity related to the 10-year plan included: • Implementation of the mul- ti-year American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Homeless- ness Prevention and Rapid Re- Housing Program (HPRP) in 2009 with $824,990 in federal funding awarded to the Wash- ington County Office of Com- munity Development. • Implementation of system changes aligned with HPRP to prevent homelessness through the Community Action “Warm Line,” a universal point of refer- ral for at-risk tenancies. The combination of systems change and funding contributed to a re- duction of Eviction Court cases filed from 4,348 cases in 2008 to 3,819 cases in 2010, officials said. Implementation of a new in- take system hosting Housing and Community Resource Ori- entation sessions administered by Community Action and the Emergency Shelter Network providers. The sessions assist persons experiencing home- lessness by developing rapid re-housing plans and providing access to resources to suc- cessfully transition from home- lessness to housing. See the Washington County Point-In-Time Homeless Count report: http://www.co.washing ton.or.us/Housing/upload/ONH C-Washington-2011.pdf . Between the Bookends From page 12 mission of mercy at an orphanage. But Natalia is also confronting a private, hurtful mystery of her own involving the inexplicable cir- cumstances surrounding her grandfather’s recent death. She turns to the stories he told her as a child, including one of a time during the Second World War when his village was cut off from everything, but haunted by the fierce presence of a tiger. Natalia realizes that, through the tales he told her, she will find the an- swers she is looking for. N OW S ERVING ! Jim’s Famous Bar-B-Q Fridays & Saturdays 660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171
