Week focuses attention on homelessness

SANDPOINT — The stories behind homelessness rarely fit the preconceptions.

Just ask Tamie Martinsen and Gina Graham of Transitions In Progress Services, also known as the Bonner County Homeless Task Force.

They can tell you about one woman who was made homeless through a family feud with her sister, which also resulted in her losing custody of her child. With the help of local social workers, she led the legal fight to reclaim care over her family and find new housing.

Or they might tell you about a woman who fell upon hard times and reached out to the task force for help. Sure enough, she got back on her feet and now owns a business with employees of her own.

These, and others like them, are the stories people rarely hear about homelessness in Bonner County, Martinsen said. It’s often not about laziness or substance abuse — it’s about individuals without strong support systems in difficult circumstances.

Supporters of Transitions in Progress Services hope to make that reality clear during the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

For the week prior to Thanksgiving, TIPS organizers plan to show residents what homelessness in the county really looks like through displays in select businesses.

For one thing, homelessness affects a wide variety of age demographics. Out of the 44 requests for help since the beginning of September, the majority were single females. However, youths, single males, single parents, couples and families all sought out TIPS’ transitional housing services, which give troubled individuals a place to stay and a program to regain control of their lives. Children are also a major focus of the organization — 26 kids have stayed in TIPS transitional homes like Blue Haven and Trestle Creek since September.   

Despite an 80-percent success rate in helping clients move on to long-term housing, financial circumstances for TIPS are more difficult than ever, Martinsen said. Recent grant cutbacks have cost the organization tens of thousands in operational funds, and grant program directors are placing  a greater emphasis on local fundraising.

“They told us organizations that can’t demonstrate local support will be discontinued from the program,” Martinsen said.

That’s why they hope Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week will galvanize the local community to help residents at risk. Donations can be placed online at www.transitionsinprogress.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1696. Alternatively, individuals can pick up donation envelopes at the awareness week’s participating businesses: Monarch Mountain Coffee, The Readery, Zero Point, Miller’s Market, Gardenia Center, Winter Ridge, Yoke’s Fresh Markets, Sandpoint West Athletic Club and Panhandle State Bank.