Wenatchee and East Wenatchee City Councils hold joint workshop on combating local homelessness

WENATCHEE– The City Councils of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee met to discuss and learn about the Wenatchee Valley’s expanding efforts to help homeless community members begin transitioning into more stable living situations.

Community Development Director Glen DeVries presented at the joint council workshop, educating local residents and the council members of two cities on his department’s interlocal work to help those living without shelter get the resources they need.

Much of DeVries’ detailed presentation focused on the important benefits of providing low-barrier shelters within the Wenatchee Valley to further help those with the highest needs.

“A lot of people have been housed,” DeVries later explained, “but a lot of people with the highest needs that were chronically homeless were not. And so there was a recognition that we needed to do something. And we studied the different types of low-barrier shelters.”

DeVries revealed that low-barrier shelters are temporary housing units that aim to provide people with the highest needs, often locals experiencing mental health and substance abuse crises, with the necessary protection from the elements to recover. Low-barrier shelters often take two forms, congregate care housing and individual unit housing. 

As DeVries explained, congregate care involves a more communal setting, with residents using bunk beds in a shared space. Individual unit housing, as the name suggests, utilizes separate shelters that can sometimes house up to four people within a more detached space.

After closely studying both options, the Community Development Department (CDD) found that each form of housing provides different benefits for people living in different situations.

“One of the things we found is that it was a good idea to have both options so that we could try to meet a range of needs,” DeVries shared. “Because some people work better in more of an individual [unit] because of their point of crisis or need, and some people can function in the lower-cost congregate care. So, we have a range of options.” 

In pushing to implement both forms of shelter housing within the Wenatchee Valley, DeVries and the CDD acquired, installed, and continue to maintain Pallet Shelters, which, despite their names, are high-quality individual units built to provide those struck by homelessness with safety, privacy, and the necessary accommodations to function.  

“And so we looked at those opportunities and studied them,” he mentioned, “and the biggest challenges that came out of that were funding and locations.”

As well as finding adequate funds for temporary housing, a major difficulty for the CDD and their regional partners is helping temporary housing residents transition toward more permanent housing, independence, and stability. A major factor in tackling this challenge has been the Coordinated Entry program, a vital resource in connecting those experiencing or threatened by homelessness to a variety of housing options. 

“Coordinated Entry is a requirement for the folks we partner with, and they gladly do so because they understand the need to link people to get access to that housing,” DeVries shared. “And that’s the entry portal to do that, and it starts opening up housing services.” 

Alongside the critical role of Coordinated Entry, DeVries revealed that much of the challenges that the valley faces in confronting homelessness can only be overcome by interlocal partnerships and community outreach.  

“The partnerships are key,” he said. “We’re just part of a system and we fill the gaps, but the partnerships with the other agencies in the county are essential to make progress on homelessness… Along with that, we’re working with partners on the necessary services to, like in case management, to help individuals work through the issues they’re facing at that time and move towards those permanent housing choices.” 

Overall, the goal of the entire valley’s work against homelessness is to help each individual or family in need find a permanent solution and find their way to a more stable life. 

In presenting these crucial efforts and challenges to the public as well as the Wenatchee Valley’s two city councils, DeVries and the CDD hope to spread awareness about the complex issues surrounding homelessness and the efforts they can support to help those suffering within the community.

“I think getting the ongoing engagement of our decision-makers is good as they look at policies and directions for resources,” DeVries later reflected. “So that’s helpful in getting the public engaged for a variety of beneficial reasons. One, getting feedback as we do our planning efforts, and just to really encourage and desire the public to be involved in that, to help give feedback in their perspectives. But also, it’s an opportunity for the public to assist the agencies who are always looking for resources, whether it’s food, donations, or providing volunteering, that’s where the community can really help impact these situations.” 

To learn more about Wenatchee’s ongoing Community Development projects, visit wenatcheewa.gov/government/community-development. 

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media