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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 21, 2013     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 21, 2013
 
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Former homeless people, advocates share stories at forum League of WomenVoters hear about need By GORDON WEEKS gordon@masoncounty.com For Mare Jensberg, making the transition from being homeless on the streets of Seattle to be- ing homeless in the woods of Harstine Island was like being on "a perma- nent camping trip." Jensberg recalls trek- king from the island to Shelton carrying 17 cents, a rotting sleeping bag, and alcohol and anger issues. Three years later, Jen- sberg lives in a storage room at St. David's Epis- copal Church in Shelton. He works in the kitchen, provides security at the church's Cold Weather Shelter and performs odd jobs. He says he's found some peace of mind, and knows he's fortunate -- eight of his homeless ac- quaintances have died in the past two years. Homeless people in Shelton would benefit from the establishment of one center where they can sleep, clean their clothes, and receive counseling and medical attention, Jensberg said. Jensberg shared his story Tuesday at the Ma- son County League of Women Voters' monthly meeting at the Johnson Library on the Shelton campus of Olympic Col- lege. Members wept as they heard stories from formerly homeless resi- dents and the people who work to help the homeless. "People ask me what they can do," said the Rev. Joe Mikel of St. David's Episcopal Church. "I tell them what they can do: you can write a check." Patty Sells of the Ma- son County Housing Co- alition said 404 people were counted as homeless in Mason County in 2012. For less than the cost at the nursing home, an apartment at Alpine Way is an excellent value and includes wonderful amenities. Licensed nurses are on duty 24 hours a day. Alpine has chef-prepared meals, your own bathroom, privacy, parking, and plenty of activities. Plus, think of the money you'll save with the included personal laundry service, housekeeping and security. You can even bring your own furniture. With all this, Alpine Way is an excellent value. We welcome your questions about services and rates and invite you to join us for a tour and lunch. Alpine Way invites you to visit our community and see first-hand the lifestyle that awaits you. With an ideal location, first-class dining and exceptional care rated "Deficiency Free" by Washington State, Alpine Way combines care and lifestyle to ensure that you enjoy peace of mind at a price you can afford. The L Y0u Deserve. The d' ¢You Need. The Want. Page A-2 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 2t, 2013 Journal photo by Gordon Weeks Last year, 404 people were counted as homeless in Mason County, but officials say the number is much higher because many homeless people will not talk to anyone in authority. That number is low be- cause they are self-report- ed and many homeless people will not talk to any official, she said. Ninety-one people said they are homeless because they lost their job, while 69 said alcohol and drug use put them on the street, Sells reported. Another 69 said a family breakup made them homeless, she said. Homeless youth are nine times more likely to repeat a grade at school, and four times more likely to drop out of school, Sells said. Many of them are tossed out of homes be- cause of their sexual ori- entation or because they are pregnant, she said. Some homeless adults are suffering from mental illness, which prevents them from renting apart- ments, Sells said. "They don't know how to function," she said. Many homeless people don't have bank accounts, and rely on check cash- ing businesses and loan sharks to cash checks, Sells said. "We're trying to teach them that they need to be banked," she said. Miles Nowlin, family and student support co- ordinator for the Shelton School District, works to get homeless kids access to education. "The new face of home- lessness is children and youth," he said. In the past three years, the number of "unaccom- "These systems are not taking care of these kids ... A lot of it is failing to the schools and the schools are at capacity." Miles Now#n, family and student support coordinator at Shelton School District panied" youth in the Shel- ton School District rose from 30 to 120, Nowlin said. "The system is not tak- ing care of these kids," he said. "A lot of it is falling to the schools, and the schools are at capacity." One of the students he helped spoke at Tuesday's forum. The teenage boy said his mother abused prescription pills and al- cohol, and he and his two brothers spent much of their time on the street. The boys usually dropped out of school a few days into each school year, he said. The boy said his moth- er moved to Oklahoma, and one brother joined their father in Missouri. That left the 14-year-old boy and his older brother homeless. said he plans to attend col- lege after he finishes his GED. His brother is work- ing. The Cold Weather Shelter is open from Nov. 1 to April 30 on nights when meteorologists pre- dict the wind chill will be 35 degrees or colder. The average number of homeless people staying overnight at the shelter has increased from 10.8 in 2008-2009 to 18.3 during the first three months of ;this season, said coordina- tor Ann Baker. Shelter officials would like to serve homeless families, but with the presence of sex offend- :ers, "we don't have a safe place, which is-kind of an • issue for us," she said, : Many shelter patrons are unemployed because of physical, mental and The brothers some- emotiOnal issues, but times Slept under bridges many areeager to pitch in or in cardboard bins to try : at the facility/Baker said. to stay dry. "They'~ great workers Today, both youths live i _ they just can't handle a in host homes. The boynormal Shift,~' she said. L • i " i , . , , ~ . •5• •" •, One vote the difference in Grapeview bond By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncounty.com Late votes counted Friday have giv- en the Grapeview School bond an edge, bringing the approval rate to 60.06 per- cent. The vote passed 594-395, one vote over the required 60 percent superma- jority. Late votes will be counted again Mon- day, and the election will be certified Tuesday. In local ballot measures, no legal requirement exists to recount ballots after a close vote, said Election Super- intendent Fina Ormond with the Mason County Auditor's Office. However, if some Grapeview voters want a recount, five registered voters can request one, but must pay for it, Or- mond said. Initial numbers showed the vote in favor of the proposed $12.5 million bond to renovate Grapeview School was just shy of the required 60 percent superma- jority last week. The bond will be paid over 20 years with a districtwide property tax levy of $1.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. The preliminary design plan, put to- gether by KMB Design Group Inc. in- cludes the replacement of the school's septic system, heating and cooling sys- tem and roof, along with upgrading me- chanical, electrical, fire suppression and water systems schoolwide. The plan would also upgrade the li- brary and media center and technology throughout the school. It would add the equivalent space of two classrooms and allow the school to stop using its aging portables as classrooms, officials said. The project also includes a new se- curity system and seismic upgrades to the building, a new kitchen and a new cafeteria. The gym now doubles as a caf- eteria. Overall, the preliminary design called for the addition of 13,724 square feet to the school.