THE JEFFERSON COUNTY winter emergency shelter at the American Legion Hall in downtown Port Townsend served 81 homeless individuals and was open 110 nights before its final day March 18
It was the longest season ever for the shelter in the basement of the Legion hall at 208 Monroe St.
First opened in 2005-2006, the shelter opened this season Nov. 30.
Of the homeless guests, 88 percent were male and 12 percent female, according to the shelter organizers.
Most of those staying at the shelter — 63 percent — were 46 or older.
The breakdown was: 12 percent, 18 to 25 years old; 10 percent, 26 to 32 years old; 15 percent, 33 to 54 years old; 30 percent, 46 to 52 years old; 31 percent, 53 to 64 and 2 percent, 65 to 70.
Military veterans accounted for 28 percent of those using the shelter.
Twenty-eight percent had mental health disabilities, 22 percent had physical disabilities, 14 percent had drug or alcohol issues and 12 percent were employed.
Of the shelter guests, 23 percent received welfare benefits, 22 percent received assistance and 38 percent reported having no income.
The average number staying at the shelter per night was 16.
The facility with a kitchen but no cooking facilities served 75 individuals during 2009, up from 55 in 2006.
The Legion shelter works in partnership with Community Outreach Association Shelter Team, or COAST, and Olympic Community Action Programs, which helps the needy in both Jefferson and Clallam counties.
The shelter has about 250 volunteers and two paid overnight monitors, paid by OlyCAP. Each paid monitor is assisted by a volunteer.
Peninsula Daily News
