Although the community is not synonymous with people living on the street, homelessness exists here, according to agencies affected. A two-year study of Williston showed an average of $142,000 per year is spent assisting those lacking housing.
Laurie Garbel, president of the Williston Basin Resource Coalition, and DeeAnn Long of Community Action Partnership were among those presenting a 10-year plan addressing the issue at Tuesday's Williston City Commission meeting. They provided stark data supporting the need for action.
Garbel said there are 14 beds on any given night available for homeless here, but they are typically full.
Long said there are people living in cars even in this week's double-digit, sub-zero temperatures. "When our rooms are full, there is nothing we really can do," Long said.
"In Denver, it's a very apparent thing. When you come to this community, it's not so visible that people are homeless. There are three reported beds with the North Dakota Association for the Disabled. Those beds are full 100 percent of the time, supported beds. There are crisis beds that are 90 percent full through the year. Community Action Partnership also has three beds. My understanding is these are 90 percent full most of the time," Garbel said. "We also have the Family Crisis Shelter and the Center for Change. In the big scenario, those people are homeless coming out of that domestic abuse scenario."
Williston City Commissioners adopted the plan's seven strategies which include to:
"We offer three rooms each night, and a majority of the time, they are full," Long said.
She said data gathered since late 2006 shows a majority of the clients range in age from 18 to 47, and 85 percent are local residents. Some of the reasons are the decrease in affordable housing, nothing available which forces people to come and see us, some of their own knowledge of budgeting is an issue.
According to Garbel, the plan stemmed from a 2001 state-driven plan.
"In 2004, Gov. John Hoeven appointed the North Dakota Interagency Council on Homelessness. North Dakota became part of a nationwide initiative to end homelessness," she said. "In 2007, grant funds became available from the state in the way of technical assistance to write 10-year plans for all of the major cities."
Garbel said the city lent its support last year to obtain the grant, and DLM Consulting of Dickinson was hired to formulate the local proposal.
She said over 40 people, representing multiple agencies, assisted in putting the plan together, along with some former homeless people.
Among services available here are emergency shelter lasting between three and 30 days, rental assistance for a first month's rent, utilities and deposits needed, supplies from food pantries, travel/gasoline, emergency prescription services, case management - outreach, mental health services, screenings and diagnostic services, a domestic volunteer and other related services.
Listed as agencies who provide services for the homeless are Community Action Partnership Inc., Family Crisis Shelter, Family Recovery Home and Center for Change, Job Service North Dakota, Lutheran Social Services, Mercy Recovery Center, North Dakota Association for the Disabled Inc., Northwest Human Service Center, Salvation Army, Upper Missouri District Health Unit, Williston Basin Resource Coalition, Williams County Social Services, Williams County Veterans Service Office and the Williston Police Department.
She said while the community has many resources available for the homeless, these are limited by funding.
"I have been so impressed with the people who have helped this," Garbel commented.
She said no immediate dollars were being requested from the city at this point, but if a need for more permanent supportive housing were identified, she said organizers of the plan may approach city officials in the future.
Comments
Aggie wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:27 AM:
getajob wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:02 AM:
Hope wrote on Jan 24, 2008 3:56 PM:
Another contributing factor would be the attitude that the rent can be higher because everyone works in "OIL". Even Mayor Kozier has been heard to comment that the rent of $750.00 per month was reasonable. I want to know how many of our citizens that have "average" jobs can afford that? I have a very good job and could not afford $750.00 per month.
"OIL" is not the answer to Williston's problems, in many cases it is the cause.
"