PORT ANGELES – The newly homeless are growing in Clallam County.
The Jan. 28 Point in Time census of actual and at-risk homeless residents showed a threefold increase in downward-sliding people who are “couch surfing,” or staying with family and friends, according to figures released last week for Clallam County.
Jefferson County homeless census figures are expected to be released in March, said de Forest Walker, director of the Housing Services Division for Olympic Community Action Programs, which oversees the count in that county.
The Clallam County census was conducted by 80 to 100 volunteers recruited by the county Homelessness Task Force, said Kathy Wahto, executive director of Serenity House of Clallam County and a task force member.
The volunteers counted 680 people — including 246 couch surfers — who were homeless or were at risk of becoming homeless from Neah Bay to east of Sequim.
That’s an overall increase of 12 percent compared with 2009.
One-third of the total — 248 — were children 17 or younger.
Of the total, 345 respondents said they are actually homeless — living in cars, tents, emergency shelters and transitional housing.
That’s an increase of 4 percent compared with 2009.
The 246 people who said they were couch surfing are a 21 percent increase over 2009, Wahto said.
Recently homeless
But here’s what caught census organizers by surprise: Most of the couch surfers — 61 percent — said they were homeless for less than 30 days or less or were in imminent danger of becoming homeless, a threefold increase from 2009.
“They are homeless now, and they never have been before,” Wahto said, calling the increase “a huge leap.”
“That’s a completely unprecedented number for us,” she added, noting it correlates with large numbers of homeowners who have lost their homes or are at risk of losing them because of financial circumstances.
“What this tells me is that there are a lot of people out there who have lately become at risk for housing issues, and we need to be letting them know where they can get some help.
Couch surfers were counted at housing resource centers in Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks, and at the Project Homeless Connect Expo at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles, held the same day as the Point in Time census.
Seventy-five respondents at the expo said they were in imminent danger of becoming roofless, most of whom were couch surfers, Wahto said.
“Homeless Connect attracted a lot of people who were concerned about housing and maybe had moved in with parents or hadn’t figured out how to resolve their crisis,” Wahto said.
They were also counted at the Dream Center for Teens in Port Angeles and other community agencies.
Contrary to popular misconception, Wahto said, only 14 of the 680 people were from out of state, though a detailed study of where in Washington those counted hail from has yet to be conducted.
“It’s very rare that we have people coming here from outside our area, because they are very noticeable,” she said.
“They carry signs that say, ‘I’m homeless, give me money.’ People from here do not advertise their circumstances.”
Tents, parks
Where survey respondents were living when counted included tents, parks, wooded ravines, the Waterfront Trail and the top of Valley Street in Port Angeles; state Department of Natural Resources campgrounds; and along rivers and creeks — anywhere they can get fresh water, Wahto said.
Thirty-eight were living in their vehicles, including a half-dozen in RVs.
Sixty-seven were living in unsheltered circumstances, up 4 percent from 2009; 132 were in emergency shelters, up 3.9 percent; and 146 were in transitional housing, up 4 percent.
One was living in an abandoned building.
Many of the homeless go to stores open 24 hours and ride buses all day, Wahto said.
“A significant number of [surveys] came from the buses.”
Downtown Port Angeles business owners have told her they’ve seen more people who appear to be homeless, on bikes or walking around, with backpacks, although homeless numbers for Port Angeles appear to be constant, she said.
With more unemployment, people who are suffering through harder circumstances are likely going downtown because that’s where the social services are located.
“That is undoubtedly the impact of long-term unemployment,” Wahto said.
Anyone who needs help with housing in Clallam County can phone the Housing Resource Center at 360-504-1946.
“We’re always trying to help people who have no other financial options,” Wahto said.
Clallam County is required by law to conduct the Point in Time census.
“This allows us to see what’s happening on a snapshot basis and make some changes in plans if we have to,” Wahto said.
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
