Several weeks ago, in downtown Winslow, I passed by yet another person with a shopping cart full of ramshackle belongings. Worried that homelessness on Bainbridge Island is steadily increasing, I sought out information from community leaders and organizations.

The Housing and Homeless Division of Kitsap County said getting precise data on homelessness is difficult and likely underestimates the problem. HHD receives counts of “households” that request housing assistance from Kitsap Community Resources—the one-stop portal to housing resources in the county.

In 2020, KCR reported that 61 Bainbridge “households” requested assistance. Some were at risk of becoming homeless, and 15 were literally without homes. Because not all homeless people request help, each year, as required by the state, HHD sends out volunteers who go into the community to count unsheltered people. They found 11 on Bainbridge in 2020. Also, the BI School District informed HHD of 15 homeless students in 2020-21. I discovered that the homeless on Bainbridge streets are not transients but have deep roots in our community.

A major driver of homelessness is a severe shortage of affordable housing without alternatives because rents for any housing in Kitsap frequently exceed wages. In September 2020, the average rent per unit in Kitsap was $1,400 per month while the average monthly income of households which sought assistance was $873. A person making a minimum hourly wage of $13.50 could afford only $624 in rent per month. In addition, the average rent of $1,400 has increased 40% since September 2015, well beyond wage increases.

The high costs make for high vulnerability for homelessness for those with financial difficulties due to medical expenses, unemployment, divorce and other issues. Vulnerability is increased further if people suffer from mental illness, disabilities and/or substance abuse. Community leaders are working to address this problem.

Kitsap County and the city of Bainbridge partner with Housing Resources Bainbridge to develop more affordable housing units. There are 286 affordable units on Bainbridge and all have waiting lists. HRB manages 103 units and reports that 50 low-income families are waiting for openings.

Recently the City Council allocated $2 million from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act for COVID-19 relief toward a new housing project and another $1.75 million will be set aside for future housing initiatives.

Also, KCR operates the Housing Solutions Center that connects people to housing resources throughout the region, including emergency shelters and rental assistance. Because HSC is located in Bremerton, a “navigator” provides services for Helpline House in BI virtually two days a week.

Helpline House provides free case management and counseling services to all islanders in need. They offer items such as food, toiletry kits, gift cards and bus tickets to shelters in Bremerton. Those with medical, mental health, disability and substance use issues are connected with Peninsula Community Health Services, Kitsap Mental Health Services and other providers in Kitsap County.

The services of Helpline House are augmented by faith-based organizations. “Super Suppers” are served once a month at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, St Cecilia and the Church of Latter-day Saints. Cross Sound Church has donated hotel vouchers.

Kitsap Homes of Compassion is a nonprofit agency that operates homes with multiple rooms, each with a house manager, for people with a mental illness and/or disability. When the program started three years ago, they counted 350 people in need and have been able to successfully house 240. KHOC’s goal is to house all those remaining within two years.

The BI police and its social worker reach out to the homeless, many of whom they know on a first-name basis. Their focus is not on making arrests (unless warranted) but building relationships and linking them to services.

Despite all these efforts, there remain gaps. The county is looking for developers interested in building affordable housing and for organizations that can operate shelter-like solutions on the island or in North Kitsap. Also, there is a need for medical, behavioral health and employment services that are located on Bainbridge. One possible solution is to use telehealth to connect to off-island providers, perhaps offered at Helpline House.

Even with more on-island services, it can be hard to engage some who are homeless in getting help. The reasons for that need further exploration. But, engagement could likely be improved by using peer counselors – people who have experienced mental illness and homelessness themselves. Homeless youth would also benefit from engagement strategies and services that are age-appropriate.

As a result of my conversations for this article, I now carry brochures from Helpline House as I walk around town. Recently I gave one to a homeless woman in Winslow. I do not have illusions that this solved her homelessness. But, I believe that anything we each can do is better than turning away.

Obviously, the organizations that offer services need volunteers and donations.

Because homelessness is complex, eradicating it calls for a co-creative, communal blending of different perspectives and a commitment from all of us to advance into new territory together.

Beatrice Dixon is a clinical psychologist and former executive director of Behavioral Health Services Washington for United Healthcare

Sources: Kirsten Jewell, Kitsap County manager of the Housing and Homeless Division; Phedra Elliott, executive director of Housing Resources Bainbridge; Maria Metzler, executive director of Helpline House; Joel Adamson, executive director of Kitsap Homes of Compassion; Joe Clark, chief of BI police; and Kelsey Lynch, Community Health navigator for BI police.