‘First step away from homelessness’ comes to Washougal

Individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the Camas-Washougal area now have one more local resource to help in their search for stable housing. The Council for the Homeless, based in Vancouver, recently announced that it is bringing its housing-assessment services to Washougal. Walk-in assessments are now available from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 2350 Main St., Washougal. "The housing specialists can offer an assessment that helps someone identify possible housing resources available to them," said Rev. Jessie Smith, vicar of St. Anne's. "This is the first step for anyone seeking housing assistance in Clark County." Connie Staley, a 59-year-old participant in the car camping program since April 1, said the new Washougal-based housing assessments will help local people like her, who are struggling to afford life's basic necessities, save money since they will no longer have to drive or find public transportation into Vancouver for similar services. St. Anne's has long been advocates for helping this area's homeless population. Church congregants started a local, safe car-camping program right before the Christmas holidays in 2015 and have since helped dozens of homeless individuals and families. "Our first guests were a family with six small kids living in their van," Smith said. "Since then we have offered safe parking to around 40 individuals, including children, the elderly, couples and singles." Participants who go through an intake process with Smith and the hospitality team, have access to the church's kitchen and bathroom from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They are allowed to park from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., seven days a week. Camas-Washougal Community Chest provided a $3,500 grant to St. Anne's to help with the cost of installing an on-site shower and laundry facility. Donations continue to be accepted for that future project. For more information about the housing assessments, call the Council for the Homeless housing hotline at 360-695-9677, or visit www.211info.org or www.facebook.com/CouncilfortheHomeless. For more information about the car-camping program or to serve as a volunteer, call St. Anne's at 360-835-5301 or email contact@stanneswa.com. Pizza for the homeless to be served Saturday, July 1, in Washougal A 53-foot semi-truck will deliver free Little Caesars pizza for the homeless, at noon, Saturday, July 1, at the Inter-Faith Treasure House, 91 "C" St., Washougal. The pizzas will be prepared at Little Caesars in Lacamas Center, 3252 N.E. Third Ave., Camas, and then packed on the truck named the "Little Caesars Love Kitchen," and taken to the Treasure House. "It's for anybody that needs a meal," said Pat Mahody, franchisee of the Lacamas Center location. "This is our way of giving back to the community. We donate unsold inventory to Treasure House and Salvation Army on a weekly basis." For more information, call 360-844-5839 or visit www.LittleCaesars.com.

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