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County ponders center for homeless

Monday, August 11, 2008 12:30 AM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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Cowlitz County officials are considering establishing a center where homeless people can get service ranging from employment advice to a hot shower.

The idea, in its earliest stages, is aimed at meeting a state goal of cutting the county's homeless population of about 450 in half by 2015, said Melissa Taylor, a senior planner at the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments.

Taylor said a center could include job search services, showers, laundry facilities and counseling. It could also include things such as a voice-mail accounts so people can apply for jobs without having to tell potential employers that they're homeless.

Taylor, who stressed that officials aren't entirely sure what services the center would eventually include, has been working on the idea with the Cowlitz Housing First Coalition, an anti-homelessness group that includes government officials, charities, business interests and religious representatives.

She said the center would probably be funded by grants and that officials don't know where the facility would be located.

County Commissioner Axel Swanson suggested the center might also include medical services and even a detox center for addicted patients.

Addiction specialists in the county have wanted to build a detox center here for more than a year. Last month, the Washington Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development denied a $40,000 federal grant to the county that would have funded a detox center feasibility study.

Claire Hauge, the county's finance director, said CTED, which oversees the grant money on behalf of the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, decided to favor water and sewer projects in other counties.

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roudy russ wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:16 AM:

" This county needs a shelter for sure. Right now the only thing resembling a shelter is the community house but it is not a real shelter. Some of the restictions and requirements keep people from getting help they need, including getting help off drugs. You have to be clean and sober an extended amount of time before they will help you. Also the rumors are that alot of residents use drugs any way. Hopefully some more aid services will come for homeless people. "

Beer&Skittles wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:41 AM:

" Let me get this straight. I'm homeless. I am eligible for $s because I am indigent (Read: welfare). I don't pay rent, car payments, insurance, etc., with that money, because I'm homeless. Therefore, I could actually buy a pay-as-you-go cell phone and have a voicemail along with that. I can also afford to go to the laundromat occasionally. WorkSource provides all the services ANYONE could ever want or need regarding getting a job. You can participate in classes on how to interview, write resumes, etc. There are resources out there for people to get of drugs/alcohol (but they have to make a committment and actually do it). The biggest problem I find is where to get a shower - and any facility that could provide that would certainly be difficult to police. The question is, how many homeless are actually interested in getting a job? "

longview citizen wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:50 AM:

" It is so sad that a lot of ( not all) the homeless choose that life. They would rather spend what little money they get on booze etc instead of housing. I am all for helping the less fortunate but what about the working poor that barely scrape by, it is about time we have something in place to help them. If they get sick and miss work they are screwed. We need to help those trying to help themselves before we help those looking for more hand outs. "

Rural Citizen wrote on Aug 11, 2008 10:16 AM:

" This is a good idea but keep the medical and detox in the form of referrals to local providers. Homeless people who are NOT druggies don't need this problem all around them while they are trying to regain their footing.

Please don't throw more monkey wrenches at them than they already have to deal with. And remember a LOT of homeless people are full families with children. Keep the druggies AWAY from those children. "

kitten wrote on Aug 11, 2008 1:06 PM:

" $40,000 for a "detox center feasibility study"????? And people wonder why I am frustrated by paying taxes when they are put to SUCH good uses. "

Billy Hill wrote on Aug 11, 2008 2:11 PM:

" What should be done for all those who think the homeless need something (which they don't) but will never happen is a solid stainless steel, 2 inch thick wirh massive doors and walls with "eastern type facilities" not western toilets, please research. A few showers again 2 inch thick stainless steel which can be disinfected and hosed down daily with the full force of a fire hose (done daily by the fire department) built right across from city hall in that parking lot where it can be monitored 24/7....I just wasted 5 minutes of my time. "

Tired of it wrote on Aug 11, 2008 2:16 PM:

" Just wait a few months for OBAMA and all thses problems will go away.VOTE OBAMA ! "

bulldog42 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 3:20 PM:

" To:Tired of it


These problems will not go away just because Obama is elected president. You need to get in touch with reality, beucase most of the people that are homeless are that way because of the choices they have made in their lives. There are resources out there to get people back on their feet if they are willing to do the things that required to do so. Most people that are homeless don't have the focus ore dedication to stay on taks to right the ship. I agree with beers and skittles. "

Commenter wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:18 PM:

" My idea for the welfare system. In order to receive public assistance, a person should have to be disabled in some way, should obtain some type of work, and or begin taking college courses to improve themselves to obtain a living wage. If a person refuses to get a job they should not receive any benefits and take their children away. If they are at least working, the welfare system should only be used to balance their income to assist them with supporting their family. In the meantime, they should be required to show proof they are attending school to advance their education. This support should be on a timeline that coincides with their schooling. Part time workers should be required to attend full time classes, and full time workers should be required to attend at least part time classes. The individuals should receive no cash, any assistance should go directly to a rental agency, utility company, etc. The majority of assistance should only be in the form of food assistance. Bill Clinton began to move in this direction when he ordered people be removed from welfare after a certain period of time. Of course President Bush immediately threw that out the window. I'm not in favor of my tax dollars going to support a person for life, but I have no problem with them going to help people get on their feet. After time, the tax dollars going to the welfare system should dramatically decrease. "

Kay English wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:23 PM:

" Commenter: What would you suggest about the mentally ill or homeless with very low IQ? "

Commenter wrote on Aug 11, 2008 6:26 PM:

" Mental illness is a disability. Low IQ is lack of education. I already explained both of those. Even those with low IQ's can obtain family wage jobs. Have you ever worked in a union? "

coco wrote on Aug 11, 2008 6:38 PM:

" if i was homeless, i would go somewhere it did not rain and was warm like maybe hawaii or california. maybe instead of housing we can just send em on a cubs bus. "

northender wrote on Aug 11, 2008 7:19 PM:

" The one and only item needed for the homeless... A one way ticket to Portland. Wake up dogooders, these people elect their lifestyle. "

roudy russ wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:09 PM:

" Has anyone, besides myself, ever been homeless and/or been strung out on drugs with no hope in site? "

Atrucker wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:38 PM:

" Re :Commenter
I busted my ass most of my life working , and hten was forced to quit working by our wonderful state because of my health. Ilost my house, car, job, all in a short period of time . I have all kinds of health problems , but I cope . The goverment screwed me for $900.00 this year. I hope DVR can pull me out of this tailspin but my hopes are not high their either, I seen the joke they pulled on my wife all this year.
Now I am stuck on ssi hating it . "

onaprayer wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:24 AM:

" Roudy Russ-the Community House will help ANYONE who is willing and ready to accept help. Yes, they do take people JUST off drugs-even 1 day clean. But, they have to remain clean. The rules are very simple-get into treatment if you have a substance abuse problem. If not, then you are expected to find a job, do a chore and be respectful; plain and simple. What I am wondering is that the CH offers all the services listed in the article except for detoxing-why do we need a duplicate? Back in the day, the CH was a great idea and stood for a good thing. It has lost its luster and management is very poor now. With the right qualified staff, a new center may offering the less fortunate in this community a better chance to be a success. "

lucky1 wrote on Aug 12, 2008 9:01 AM:

" The problem is most of the resources will end up going to the people that dont want to change. The ones that just want the handout. (Beer&Skittles) Most people dont know but they can still go to the YMCA and get a shower. "

TheGenius wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:00 AM:

" I'm all for committing city funds for a homeless shelter... in Onalaska. There's a difference between hitting rough patches in life and being plain lazy and destitute. If anyone has a problem with that, then start taking panhandlers off the street, take them home, shower and feed them, and help them get a job. No way should government have to build shelters for people who choose not to better their situation. "

working mom wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:06 PM:

" I to have been homeless. I was at a shelter in Olympia Wa but only for about two weeks.The shelter we stayed at required us to put in three rental apps a day and we could only stay three months. I would like to know if Community House has rules like that? If they do why are they not making people follow those rules? I know for a fact that one lady living there has a job and has lived there for at least 5 years maybe more. Set limits and give others a chance for a place to stay. "

downtowner wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:00 AM:

" I work & own a house downtown & the Community House is not the problem but does attract problems. Transients sleep, drink, smoke & ***** outside all day & night. It looks like a 3rd world country there with the trash, shopping carts & blankets while at the same time the City is trying to promote downdown. Even the Police say it is a joke. So, I'm in favor of offering them the choice of a work camp in the woods or moving on out of town. "

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