|
|
|
|
|
345 SE 5th, Madras, OR 97741 | 541.475.2275
Madras City Councilor and pastor of the Madras Christian Church Walt Chamberlain, second from left, confers with volunteer Mildred Chotard, while Ana Young, at right, Ellen Gregg, and Jan Kozak, await walk-ins during the annual homeless count Jan. 28.
Throughout Central Oregon, volunteers spread out Jan. 28 for the fifth annual homeless count.
In Madras, the command centers included the Madras Christian Church, Madras Department of Human Services, Jefferson County Health Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, School District 509-J, Madras Gospel Mission, and Community Justice Department.
Madras City Councilor Walt Chamberlain, pastor of the Madras Christian Church, was assisted by Ana Young in organizing an estimated 50 to 60 volunteers at his church.
"It went really well," said Chamberlain. "We had a lot more people involved as volunteers, going out counting, helping people find resources. It was probably the best year we've had."
Most of the people who came in seeking assistance were unemployed. "That's the biggest demographic we've seen -- people who've lost their jobs and can't pay their rent, phone bill, and water," said Chamberlain, who has been receiving four or five calls per week "from people who've gotten behind and need help."
Although total numbers from the count won't be available from NeighborImpact until March, by Thursday afternoon, Young and other volunteers at the Madras Christian Church had counted 49 homeless people -- 38 male, and 11 female.
The oldest, she said, was an 89-year-old veteran living at a camp in Ashwood with other veterans, and the youngest was a 2-year-old.
Homeless people who sometimes camp out under the Willow Creek Bridge, move to higher ground when the creek is flowing.
While the majority of the homeless were "couch surfing, or staying with friends and family," she said, "We had at least 10 or 15 that were actually living in the streets or homeless camps."
The church provided a lunch, and gave out food bags, clothing, sleeping bags and blankets, and hygiene kits.
Aaron Fisher, part-time homeless liaison for School District 509-J, was in the process of verifying the status of students.
"Right now, I have 33 students that are living in shelters or doubled up or in insufficient housing," he said. "There are a lot more on our list, but they haven't come forward to enroll themselves in our program."
Students in the district's program get free lunches and are allowed to enroll whether or not they have the proper identification. "You can't turn kids away," he said.
Young stressed that the homeless count is confidential. "There's nothing on here that identfies who the person was," she said.
