Douglas County Counts Homeless Population
ROSEBURG (KMTR) -- Douglas County non-profits and volunteers are hoping to get a better figure on an increased homeless population. Various groups spent Wednesday counting the homeless population across the region.
Two sites were set up in Roseburg, along with ten others throughout Winston, South Douglas County, Glendale, Glide, Sutherlin, Reedsport and other communities.
One of those sites was the VA Roseburg Health Care System campus, off Garden Valley Boulevard. Officials helped around 60 homeless people there, most of whom are U.S. Veterans.
The 2008 Douglas County homeless count took note of between 800 and 900 people without permanent residency in the area. This year, officials are expecting more. Final numbers being released this summer.
“We’ve just see such an increase at our office of people coming in who have literally told us, ‘I used to donate to you,’ ‘I’ve never had a problem paying my bill before,’ ‘I’ve never had to ask for energy assistance,’” says Tena Lammers, spokeswoman for the United Community Action Network. Lammers says, “now because their hours are cut, or the business they were working at completely closed, there’s just such high unemployment out there.”
A large goal for the United Community Action Network this year and officials at the VA Hospital in Roseburg is to get veterans in permanent housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing program has helped 35 veterans in Douglas County get into permanent housing.
That program is hoping to expand, adding 35 more vouchers for veterans to get permanent housing at inexpensive rates. Taher Kashuba helps run the program in Roseburg. She says, “The number one thing people can do is come to us because the VA has so many different services to offer. So if we hear what their needs are, then we’re here to help or refer them to other services.”
For more information on how veteran’s can take part in the “HUD-VASH” program for inexpensive permanent housing in Douglas County, contact the VA Roseburg Health Care System at 541-440-1000 and ask for Taher Kashuba. You can also go to their website by clicking here.
If you are homeless, or about to become homeless, you can contact the United Community Action Network for help. It can be reached at 541-672-3421 or toll-free at 1-800-301-8226. Online, you can reach UCAN at their website, www.ucancap.org.
