Next year, Snohomish County expects to have an estimated $1.9 million to spend on housing and other services to help the homeless.
Now the county is asking the public: How should the money be spent?
A series of six meetings will be held later this month with the goal of finding new ways to provide services to the homeless, said Sola Plumacher, who works in the county’s Office of Housing, Homelessness and Community Development.
The meetings are part of the county’s overall goal of reducing homelessness by 50 percent over the next 10 years, she said.
Local money for the project comes from a $10 recording fee on building projects that is collected at the auditor’s office.
The county is looking for new ways to prevent homelessness and better ways to assist those who currently are homeless, Plumacher said.
In particular, officials would like suggestions on how to get more permanent housing for homeless people so their stays in shelters are reduced, as well as new ideas for serving families with children, the biggest category of homeless people in Snohomish County.
Suggestions on improving homeless services for single adults, youths, domestic violence victims, veterans and people with disabilities also are being sought.
Strategies may include finding ways to preserve land for low-income housing and incentives for landlords to rent to low-income tenants, Plumacher said.
Services for people already in shelters could include providing more information on financial planning and help with job-seeking skills and resume writing.
The hope is that proposals made at the meetings will help local social services agencies do their work in new and different ways, she said.
“There are lots of facets to this battle that haven’t been tried that we would love the opportunity to explore,” said Bill Humphreys, director of basic need services for Volunteers of America, one of several organizations that assists the homeless.
How to weigh in
Snohomish County is holding six meetings to hear suggestions on new ways to provide programs and services for the homeless.
All sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the conference room of the Office of Housing, Homelessness and Community Development, 2722 Colby Ave. (Medical/Dental Building), Everett.
Here are the topics and meeting dates:
Aug. 21: Chronically homeless single adults
Aug. 22: Youth
Aug. 23: Domestic violence victims
Aug. 24: Veterans
Aug. 29: People with disabilities
Aug. 30: Families with children
For more information, call 425-388-7289.
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