Homelessness increasing in N. Idaho, country

SANDPOINT — Bonner County’s homeless and hungry come from a cross-section of circumstances.

And in many cases, the situation they find themselves in is through no fault of their own, according to Blue Haven program manager Tammie Martison.

Blue Haven operates three facilities — two for the homeless and a third facility for domestic violence victims.

Today’s homeless and hungry are the working poor, families who have lost their homes through the economic downturn and divorced women.

It is a a situation Bonner County residents may be unaware of because of the area’s rural nature, said Martinson.

The organization and several others that help the community’s hungry and homeless are drawing attention to the issue by organizing activities for the first time to coincide with National Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Week, Martinson said.

Organizers  are hosting the events to raise awareness and come up with solutions to the problems, Martinson said.

Several years ago, Blue Haven’s three facilities had vacancies. But as the economy has worsened, the situation has changed.

Its facilities also include Harmony House and  a Trestle Creek shelter, which provide sanctuary for 16 families, including 33 children, and four single women without children.

“We used to never have a waiting list, now we have seven families on the list,” Martinson said.

Bonner County’s high housing costs — whether it be homes for sale or rent —  is a big contributor to the problem of homelessness and hunger, she said.

Some people simply cannot afford to pay first, last and a deposit for rent, which can run between $1,200 and $2,000.

Others have been evicted from their homes and some have poor credit.

But many of those who are now in need have not previously needed  help.

“A lot of people have it in their head that people get themselves into this situation,” Martinson said. “Quite often it’s through no fault of their own.”

Blue Haven is receiving telephone calls from people “who have never found themselves in this position before.”

Calls are coming from professional people who want advice because they face losing their homes after a job loss.

“It’s across the board now, it’s not just low-wage earners,” Martinson said.

Blue Haven clients also include people who lack job skills, women who have divorced and are without skills because they stayed home to care for their families, women fleeing domestic violence, people who lost their homes because they did not understand their mortgages and those who have suffered some type of illness.

“I have a lot of people come in with lots of medical debt,” Martinson said.

Even two-income families have found it difficult to pay for housing, she said.

Another problem that is on the rise is scams —  situations in which people who can least afford being scammed — are falling for schemes that entail sending money to someone to receive a larger amount of money, she said.

It often takes an outside party to set clients straight to keep them from falling for a scammer’s line, Martinson added.

Bonner Community Food Center also has seen a marked increase in demand for its services beginning as far back as last fall.

Requests for assistance have not declined with the facility seeing a 25- to 30-percent increase in the past three months, according to food bank director Alice Wallace.

People often are ignorant to the plight of the homeless and the hungry because they are an unseen population.

“When the weather is better, people would camp out,” Martinson said.

They also go from house to house, living with family and acquaintances until they wear out their welcome. Some people move onto other areas where they can find emergency shelter, which Bonner County does not have.

But they leave behind support systems and enter a realm whether they are unfamiliar with available services, she said.

What kind of picture comes to mind when we think of homeless? For many, it is probably the downtrodden that we see in the cities. 

For the homeless in rural areas, it can be quite a different picture.  The Bonner County Homeless Task Force, also known as Transitions in Progress Services, TIPS serves many families in Sandpoint. 

More than 200 families have been helped since the program began in 1994.  There are three shelters designed to meet the needs of single women, families and victims of domestic violence.

The week of November 14-21 is National Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Week.

TIPS will sponsoring several activities including a meal served at the Priest River Senior Center on Monday, Nov. 16 from  11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a turkey dinner served at the Gardenia Center on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from noon to 5 p.m.

A Circles “Big View” meeting is scheduled at the Sandpoint Community Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov 17.  Circles is a program designed to help people out of the cycle of poverty. 

Also, on Tuesday, is a candlelight vigil for Tim Fury and other homeless passings.  It will be held at the Community Hall after the Circles meeting.

First Presbyterian also is hosting an event to honor the homeless. That candlelight service will be held at 8 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

On Saturday from  1 to 3 p.m., there will be an open house at Trestle Creek Supportive Housing. 

For more information or for any one wishing to volunteer to help with the meals, please call Tamie at Harmony House, 265-2952.