Thank you for printing the letter “Donation concerns” last Sunday [Aug. 27], and to the writer who was concerned about the safety of street corner sign-holders and how to really help people who don’t have housing.
The past few months, thanks to a Walkling Memorial Trust grant, Serenity House employed 19 homeless people who panhandle.
Those 19 worked 296 hours cleaning, weeding, mowing and moving junk and furniture.
We called this program “Reaching Out,” and it proved much better than I expected.
People who wouldn’t talk to our homeless outreach teams who offered shelter eagerly engaged when offered work.
Reaching Out employees had diverse backgrounds. Some had criminal records, physical or mental health disabilities, a few were veterans — all were homeless, all were eager to work, worked hard and were local except one.
So far, one is renting. Another’s child called during the workday, praising Mom on her first job in four years. Another checked into treatment, and many are utilizing our shelters and housing resource centers who were not before.
Reaching Out works, and these are big wins.
Regrettably, this month, there will be no funds to pay homeless unemployed people who want to work. The last of the grant will be exhausted.
If you’re concerned about people holding signs and want to do something worthwhile with your donations, direct your gifts to Serenity House, P.O. Box 4047, Port Angeles, WA 98363, to continue Reaching Out.
Serenity House is that trustworthy agency the writer wished for that ensures that aid goes where needed most.
Kevin Harkins,
Port Angeles
EDITOR’S NOTE: Harkins is the operations director for Serenity House of Clallam County.