PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County homeless will be counted during a census this week that will eventually determine how much funding will be received locally to create housing for the homeless.
Olympic Community Action Program, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the North Olympic Peninsula, is spearheading the Jefferson County portion of the statewide campaign to count the elusive homeless population.
Although counts of homeless individuals have occurred previously — last year 142 were counted in Jefferson County — Thursday marks the first time OlyCAP will provide warm food, coffee and other amenities to draw Jefferson County homeless people to be counted.
At the Park and Ride Jefferson Transit station on Haines Street, a booth will be set up from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. where homeless people can eat pizza donated by Domino’s Pizza, drink coffee and fill out an information form.
The form asks for name, date of birth, any disabilities, cause of homelessness and the ZIP code for the last six months, among other information.
‘Direct effect’ on funding
“What we’re trying to do is determine if they’re from Jefferson County or if they’re on a journey and move around a lot,” said Steve Paysse, OlyCAP housing manager.
“This count has a direct effect on federal funding for homelessness.”
The results of the count will be submitted to state officials who will send the numbers to federal officials, who will then use the information to determine how much funding will go to Jefferson County for homelessness.
This year’s numbers will be important information for OlyCAP, which is joining a statewide effort to reduce homelessness by 50 percent in the next 10 years.
