After reading commentaries by the editor of the paper and others, if I understand correctly, there is no countywide coordinated effort to address the issue of homelessness.
In Skagit County, a 30-plus member task force created a five-year plan that is published on the internet. It is my understanding that action plan was developed to meet a state requirement, but that there have been some very good developments — primarily because of the work put forth by nonprofits.
I have been told that the city "doesn't like" volunteer groups that have gone to a local encampment to provide medical services, food, clothing, etc. I don't know if that is true. That would be very unfortunate if it is.
Homelessness and many other cultural, social and economic issues impact every single community and the immediate answer at the state and federal level is to throw money at it. Billions of dollars have been spent and are currently earmarked to address homelessness in our state, but it doesn't seem like anyone ever really knows where the money ends up; and what its overall impact is.
A few weeks ago, I went to a Centralia encampment with a volunteer team to provide lunches and other supplies. I have the notion that there should always be some accountability by anyone that has the ability to physically and mentally participate. Part of our group spent time picking up bags and bags of trash and wheeling it from the camp to a truck to be taken to the dump. One "resident" in the camp worked shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the group in that effort. There were not a lot of other people up and around when we were there and I don't know if other people would have been as willing to pitch in and help. Having no expectation of accountability in any environment is a huge misstep.
Moving the homeless population in a community to another location is just geography and doesn't seem like a long term solution to any of the concerning issues.
A Lewis County task force that includes every city and town mayor, a county commissioner, a representative from every police and fire department, nonprofits and volunteer groups may be much more successful collectively than the current method of several individual strategies.
People are homeless for lots of reasons and the response to people in a short-term crisis should look much different than those that suffer with addiction and mental health issues; or folks that could afford housing, but living in an encampment has become their community and the way of life that they prefer.
It is a very complex issue, but it seems like a county-wide effort to partner together to address a countywide concern would be worth a try.
C.J. Sanders
Centralia
