Jan. 14, 2010
Oregon Coast Community Action and the South Coast Homeless Council are working in partnership with many other local organizations to complete the annual Homeless Count event on Jan. 27, 2010 in Coos County.
The one-night count takes place across the state of Oregon and nationally each January. It provides a “point-in-time” snapshot of the problem of homelessness to help policymakers target resources to the areas experiencing the greatest need.
In recent years, agencies conducting the count have made considerable efforts to count people who live in a variety of unstable situations. These situations may include people camping, living in a travel trailer, homeless youth in the schools, and staying temporarily in low-cost hotels and motels.
In Coos County, volunteers will join those who work with the homeless in the one-night count. People interested in assisting ORCCA and the Homeless Council in this important effort should call Madeline Enos, Volunteer Coordinator at ORCCA, at (541) 888-7070 by Jan. 19. A training for all people working on the count will be held on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. Contact Madeline Enos at ORCCA for more information.
“By joining together to assist in counting the homeless in our region, we are truly helping the entire community,” said Bob More, Director of Housing and Emergency Services at ORCCA. “At the state level, funding for programs to help with homelessness, evictions and rental assistance are partially determined by the number of homeless individuals counted during this annual event, and our efforts will help hundreds of people throughout the region in all types of housing crisis.”
Helping families in need in our community is especially important during the winter, as electric bills skyrocket, shelter is vital and food may be harder to come by due to higher living costs. You can make a difference for children and families, and many others in need in our community, by donating your time.
“Through the many partnerships involved in the homeless count, we hope to bring more people together to help those in need in our community and make a difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said Mary Schoen-Clark, CEO of Oregon Coast Community Action. “I hope everyone will consider how they can help families and children in need, whether it’s working with the homeless count or volunteering your time with a local food pantry.”
To find out how you can help others in our community every single day, come to ORCCA’s Volunteer Open houses. The first will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. The second will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. ORCCA’s open houses will both be held at the South Coast Food Share warehouse on the SOCC campus, across from the Rec Center.
Oregon Coast Community Action provides services that work to feed, house, warm and educate vulnerable children and families throughout the South Coast. For more information, visit www.orcca.us.
Interviews Available: Madeline Enos, Volunteer Coordinator
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