Port Townsend navigator finds resources for those in need

PORT TOWNSEND — Navigator Judson ‘Jud’ Haynes works as part of the Port Townsend Police Department, but he is not a law enforcement officer.

Haynes is Port Townsend Police Department’s navigator — a mental health professional embedded within the police department who assists members in the community struggling with mental health, addiction and homelessness connect with the resources they need.

In Haynes’s words, his job is “to work directly with individuals who are disconnected with services and get them reconnected.”

The position helps “people who are very disconnected … to get the food, clothes, and medical detox,” he added.

“I try to make sure people stay connected,” Haynes said. “Now that I have a vehicle, I can sometimes transfer people myself.”

Navigators exist nationwide — under different program names.

In the programs, a social service worker and/or mental health specialist is incorporated with a law enforcement team to help those with mental illness or involved in substance abuse.

The program started in Port Townsend on Jan. 1, and in June, Haynes’s position was moved from part time to full-time.

The Port Townsend City Council voted to take up the cost of the 13 hours a week for him to be at the station full time.

Now, Haynes drives a city-owned car and is able to respond to calls directly instead of having to ride with an officer.He also is now available around the clock on an “on-call” status, which has been beneficial for the overall time response he has. Before he had his own vehicle, in situations he was needed, the officers would have to return to the station to pick him up and head back to the location.

For instance, he helped a family that came to Port Townsend in their car, which needed repairs. Haynes was able to respond quickly to their needs and get them connected with services.

“What made this successful was that they weren’t ignored,” Haynes said.

Haynes worked with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) to find them temporary housing and get their vehicle cleaned out and repaired.

“Helping get their vehicle repaired made them mobile, which is makes it easier to find housing,” Haynes said.

By working with OlyCAP for this case, Haynes hopes to help them find permanent housing either locally or outside the area, preventing them from being on the street again and “avoiding the increasing of the homeless encampment issue.”

Having Haynes work the case in a non-law enforcement position contributed to the success, since Haynes said he was able to give a “warm handoff” to the OlyCAP and Dove House services.

Haynes compiled a random, anonymous list of 20 people he has made contact with, each one answering such questions as having housing, mental health issues or substance use issues; how many 9-1-1 calls they have been involved with and who is receiving services through Dove House.

Of those 20, 12 are homeless, 15 have confirmed mental health issues, eight have confirmed substance use issues (seven are unknown), 518 total calls to 9-1-1 have been made either by them or regarding them, and none are confirmed to be receiving services from Dove House.

A homeless encampment off Howard Street tucked back in the woods was initially discovered after the police and fire department were called about an unattended campfire, said Sgt. Troy Surber.

The owner of the property had posted “no trespassing” signs on the property about a month ago, so anyone on the property could be arrested for investigation of criminal trespassing, Surber said.

Instead, people in the encampment were given advance notice and assistance with the process, Surber explained.

On Tuesday, Surber and Haynes visited three campsites on the property and spoke with two people. (One camp was empty when they visited.)

In both cases, Surber made the initial contact and spoke to the people about cleaning their debris and camps by Wednesday afternoon, offering to bring trash bags later that day. He then introduced/reintroduced Haynes to the person and Haynes took up the conversation from there.

Haynes would begin each conversation with a question: “What do you need?”

Answers ranged from socks, garbage bags or laundry vouchers to assistance in getting a no-contact order — all of which either Surber and Haynes agreed to help.

“Jud is very good at getting the resources that people need,” Surber said.

The impact of leftover campsites and trash can cost thousands of dollars in removal and it falls to the landowner to deal with the fallout of the camps, Surber said.

Each contact that Haynes makes is in “small, incremental steps,” he said.

He is building up and expanding the Navigator program as he goes along.

“There’s a process in keeping people engaged in the process,” Haynes said. “It’s time-intensive.”

Haynes’s job isn’t only getting people help and assistance, it’s also listening to their ideas and thoughts from the overall community on how to improve life for its at-risk members.

One woman that Surber and Haynes visited talked with Haynes for over a half-hour, giving him updates on what and how she’s been doing, the help she’s been receiving from Dove House and what help she still needs, as Haynes diligently listened and took notes throughout the encounter.

Surber said that there has been a marked improvement in the community since Haynes came on and that they are trying to make sure Haynes is with them on any situation where he can make a difference.

“On any initial contact we want to be with Jud,” Surber said, “After that it’s up to him.”

The cases that Haynes responds to are not limited to just the homeless community, Haynes said.

He has had calls from family members looking for resources to get help for their loved ones, people just trying to navigate the complicated mental health and substance abuse programs in area, and others just looking for help, regardless of their housing situation.

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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5 or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.