|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2006
Contact:
Connie
Rivera, capital
finance manager, Office of Program and Budget Development, 709-3065
Forum on
homelessness scheduled for June 6
OLYMPIA
– An all-day forum
aimed at reducing homelessness in
Thurston
County
will take place Tuesday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in
Olympia
. Attendees will join workgroups addressing a wide range of issues, such as:
community rest shelters, affordable housing, employment, mental illness,
substance abuse, domestic violence, veterans housing, and housing for
offenders. The event is sponsored by the Homeless Planning Workgroup, a
subcommittee of the Thurston County Home Consortium.
The
forum, entitled “Dream the Dream,” will take place at
333 Kaiser Road N.W.
in
Olympia
, the site of the
Westwood
Baptist
Church
. The event is free and the public
is invited to attend. To view the agenda and register, visit
www.co.thurston.wa.us. To receive a registration form by mail instead, call
709-3065 or e-mail riverac@co.thurston.wa.us.
Participants are asked to register by Wednesday, May 31.
According
to a Jan. 26 census by the Homeless Planning Workgroup:
·
96
percent of homeless households cited poverty-related issues as reasons they
became homeless.
·
64
percent of homeless individuals reported having a disability.
·
45
percent of homeless households became homeless since the last census in
January 2005.
·
One
in five homeless individuals were under the age of 18.
·
Less
than 5 percent of homeless households last resided outside of
Thurston
County
.
·
39
percent of homeless individuals reported having a mental illness.
·
30
percent of homeless individuals reported having alcohol or substance abuse
problem.
The Homeless Planning Workgroup is a subcommittee of
the Thurston County HOME Consortium, which consists of representatives from
the cities of Lacey,
Olympia
, Tumwater, Rainier, Tenino and Yelm, and from the town of
Bucoda
and
Thurston
County
.
| 