PORT ANGELES — “Getting to Zero” is the theme of the 2013 Annual Planning Forum on Ending Homelessness in Clallam County, which is set for Wednesday.
The special Shelter Providers Network of Clallam County event is hosted by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 Lopez Ave., Port Angeles, and is free and open to the public.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., with coffee, tea and light refreshments available.
Forum presentations begin at 9 a.m. and adjourn by 1:30 p.m.
Kathy Wahto, executive director of Serenity House of Clallam County and Network and Pam Tietz, executive director of Peninsula Housing Authority, will present the Annual Report Card, reviewing 2012 progress and developing approaches.
Comprehensive service and housing programs for veterans and their families will be featured.
Serenity House’s expanding corps of AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers will introduce the 2012-2013 economic opportunity initiative they are working on to expand housing services to the most remote and rural parts of the county.
A developing emergency service diversion program to reduce jail costs for cities while improving public safety will be introduced by a work group including Port Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Brian Smith and Deputy Mayor Brad Collins.
Mary Schwartz, Bruce Yasutake and Jennifer Garrett of the state Department of Commerce Housing Assistance Unit will deliver a lively presentation on how Washington state measures the performance of homeless programs, using the comprehensive data available through the Homeless Management Information System, or HMIS.
County Homelessness Task Force Chairman Bob Dunlap and staffer Leanne Grasseth, with Tietz and Wahto, will present a draft work plan to update the Clallam Ten Year Plan for the final three years, leading to a visioning session, “Getting to Zero — The Vision.”
To RSVP or for more information, phone Martha Ireland at 360-452-4737 or email shelterprovidersnetwork@gmail.com.
