Submitted by the Orcas Island Community Foundation
This past week, the primary focus of the Community Emergency Response Fund advisory team has been to ensure that everyone on Orcas has a place and a shelter to shelter in place. A Shelter task force was established (adding Larry Hughes, Mental Health provider, and Rick Hughes and Ryan Page from San Juan County to the effort).
With the help of Erin O’Dell (OCRC) and Larry Hughes identified (without revealing identities) 6 individuals who were both homeless and mentally ill (and who may be too disruptive or destructive to house in a hotel or house). The Shelter group reached out to the community to find Host sites to establish temporary shelters. The Community and Catholic Churches, Orcas Christian School, Camp Orkilla, and Airport Center have all agreed to host and a few others are still considering.
Each host site will have:
• Dry and secure shelter (tent, RV, or Tiny Home)
• Porta-potty
• Access to electricity
• Clean bedding and towels
• Potable water
• Cooking supplies (Coleman stove, toaster oven, hot water kettle)
• Workable smartphone and wifi connection
• Market Tent and outdoor table/seating
Each individual will be asked to agree to sheltering in place, keep up social distancing, and be provided daily check-ins by a Mental Health provider. The Shelter task force will provide food and water delivery, garbage pick up as needed. The Athletic Club has offered their facility for daily access to showers. In order to start that, two positions need to be filled for a monitor and a custodian to thoroughly clean the facility before and after use. Please post on orcas.recovers.org if you are interested in these paid positions, or if you have any of the listed items to donate.
These host sites will remain in place through the time period of the Governor’s Shelter in Place decree. The Shelter Task Force is looking for a permanent solution that would likely be scattered sites with basics (water, electric) and a centralized hygiene station (showers, toilet, laundry facility). Unfortunately, there is not one community in this nation that does not have a homeless population. Orcas is no exception. But our response can be exceptional.
The primary goal of the Community Emergency Response Fund effort is to keep the community as healthy as possible. Helping this most vulnerable population is central to that effort. If when we get to the other side of all this, these neighbors feel like they are cared for and have a network of support, they may find the strength to address their deep issues and find as much peace as possible in this lifetime.
OICF hosts a weekly Community Check in call on Wednesday at 8 a.m. where organizations report on their efforts and needs. At this week’s meeting, it was reported that the Food Bank served 245 families and individuals on Tuesday and they are now experiencing a reduction in food supply which they hope will rebound as the situation stabilizes. Local food production is going to be key to filling need. OPAL has already served 45 families in need of immediate rent and mortgage support, committing $31K so far. The senior meal delivery service has quadrupled and Hearts and Hands has connected the 60 community members over 90 to daily check-in support. They will work to do the same for the 250+ who are in their 80’s. OCRC has initiated weekly calls to all of the individuals and families they serve to initiate support before crisis deepens. The Senior Center is also setting up a ‘buddy’ system for frequent call check-ins with elderly folks. They paired everyone over 90 and are now working on doing the same for those in their 80’s.
As of April 4, 2020, 158 donors have contributed $284,000 to the CER Fund. The fund has distributed $225,000 in the following grants.
Week 1:
• $10K to OPAL (helped set up rent and mortgage case management system)
• $10K to Senior Center (covered immediate costs of quadrupling nutrition deliveries)
• $20K to the Food Bank (covered immediate need to increase food purchases to meet 100% increase of customers. Also allowed investment in sourcing more food locally- purchasing CSA’s from farmers, committing to weekly bread orders from local bakeries, replacing the weekly shared meals with to-go options from local restaurants).
• $10K to OCRC (supported the expanding case management staff time)
• (In addition, $13K was dedicated to pay for personal protection equipment for local home care workers. $3,000 came from Lahari and $10,000 from Hearts and Hands)
Week 2:
• $40 K to OPAL (rent/mortgage relief)
• $25 K to OCRC (case management, emergency needs)
• $15 K to Food Bank (hiring 2 part-time managers- Kelly Doty and Amanda Sparks. Kevin Ranker is donating his services)
• $2500 to OICF to purchase community thermometers.
• $10K to Senior Center ( expansion of the call check-ins through Hearts and Hands)
Week 3:
• $25k to OPAL to support immediate housing needs focused on supporting efforts and providing resources to ensure the homeless on Orcas have both a place and a shelter to shelter in place.
• $10K to Orcas Center to support public service announcement video production
• $10K to Senior Center for meeting increasing needs.
• $40 to OCRC to replenish their emergency fund and increase part-time staff to full.
All grantees are asked to submit a report each month documenting changes in community need, programs and services provided. These will be compiled and distributed to the community at large.
This week, OICF will launch the GiveOrcas campaign and broaden opportunities to support key community organizations. Please consider making a donation through www.giveorcas.org in support of those programs that you care about.
It is also critical to keep the flow of funding that is immediately available to direct to the ever-changing community needs. If you can give to the Community Emergency Response Fund as well, please do.
OICF is providing all of the processing and accounting at no charge (thanks to OICF’s Cornerstone donors) so 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to the organizations you support.
Stay well.
