POULSBO — The good news for North Kitsap Fishline as it begins 2007 is that it met its budget requirements for 2006. Now the emphasis is on stocking up for the countywide homeless count on Jan. 26.
North Kitsap Fishline is among a myriad of county organizations participating in the homeless count in conjunction with the Kitsap County Coalition for the Homeless.
“It’s not just about complying with state law, but it’s about raising community awareness that this is a problem here,” said Fishline executive director Margie Addington.
Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade echoed Addington’s thoughts about the importance of the count.
“Countywide we’re trying to figure how to a,t least reduce the number of homeless,” Quade said. “However, I don’t think we’ll truly know those numbers.”
On Jan. 26, volunteers will be at Fishline’s 3rd Avenue location, Kitsap Memorial State Park and near North Kitsap High School in an attempt to get an accurate count of the North End’s homeless population, Addington said.
“It’s not just those living in tents out in the woods or behind vacant buildings,” she said. “It’s those who are couch surfing as well.”
Many teenagers and young adults don’t have a place to call their own but don’t consider themselves homeless, even though in reality they are, she said.
In an effort to provide incentive for those who are homeless to participate in the count, Addington said the food bank is collecting items to meet the basic living needs of that population.
“We’re talking about things like blankets, coats, socks, some food items, tarps and tents, basic survival things,” she said.
For the teen and young adult population, prepaid phone cards are important as well, she said.
“It’s important for them to call home and let their families know they’re OK,” she said.
Sleeping bags are also a pressing need as the homeless count nears, because currently the food bank only has two children’s sleeping bags in stock, she said.
Gift cards or gift certificates allowing people to go to a laundry facility and wash their clothes would help, too, she said.
Once people arrive at Fishline to get the assistance needed to get on their feet, they are often referred to places in Bremerton, but lack transportation, she said.
“Bus tokens are another big thing, when we do referrals to help them resolve their plight they have to go to Bremerton,” Addington said.
For Quade, who has been a longtime supporter of Fishline, it comes as no surprise that the organization is stepping up to help with the homeless count and provide items they need.
“It’s one of the things we can do to help out the less fortunate,” she said. “It’s very important that they have the resources so they are able to stretch to accommodate that need.”
Donations can be dropped off at Fishline’s 3rd Avenue location or mailed to Fishline at P.O. Box 1517, Poulsbo, WA 98370. For more information, call (360) 779-5190.
