San Juan County’s 2018 point in time homeless count will be conducted on Thursday, Jan. 25. Count organizers and volunteers work with local family resource centers, food banks, emergency cold weather shelters, churches, healthcare providers, senior centers, libraries, the sheriff’s office and many other community support service providers to conduct the count. The count, initiated by the state of Washington in 2005 (RCW43.185C.030), is conducted annually at the end of January.

This year, San Juan County Health and Community Services is collaborating with the resource centers on each island to provide point in time count volunteer training at Lopez Island Family Resource Center on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m.

The department is also working with the cold weather emergency shelters on Orcas and San Juan to ensure the shelters are open the night of the count regardless of weather conditions to encourage participation.

Last year, the point in time count identified 36 individuals living outdoors, in vehicles or abandoned building, and 60 individuals living in substandard structures without access to either drinking water, a restroom, bathing facilities or the ability to cook hot food. There were 58 individuals also identified who were living in temporary, unstable living arrangements, often with family or friends.

If you have questions or would like to help with the count, contact Ryan Page, San Juan County affordable housing coordinator at (360)370-0590 or ryanp@sanjuanco.com.