Number of homeless children continues to rise in Kitsap By Maks Goldenshteyn Published Sunday, April 3, 2011 Higher than usual enrollment in Kitsap Community Resources' early education programs suggests that the number of homeless children in Kitsap has continued to rise in recent years. With three months left in the current program year, KCR has 521 participants enrolled in its three early-learning programs for children of low-income families. The share of homeless children enrolled has swelled to 18 percent, up 5 percent from the 2009-2010 program year when 13 percent of the 563 children enrolled were homeless. At 18 percent, the number of homeless children is about twice the state average for the current program year, according to Katy Warren with the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, a Bellevue-based early learning advocacy group. "I've been looking at other parts of the state and Kitsap isn't the very highest I've seen so far," Warren said. "But it's definitely among the highest." Enrollment figures from KCR's Early Head Start — a program for children up to 5 years old — are more striking. Of the 102 participants enrolled so far, 25 percent are homeless. That's up 5 percent from last year. To be eligible for either the state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program or the federal Head Start program, a child's family must be at or near the federal poverty level — which is an annual income of about $22,000 for a family of four. Aside from preparing low-income children for school, Head Start families can receive housing subsidies, referrals to shelters, medical services and assistance with food and clothing. Modeled after Head Start, ECEAP provides education, health and nutrition screenings and family support. Research shows that homeless children are more likely than their peers to develop emotional and behavioral problems. Instability and increased levels of stress often manifest themselves in higher incidence of mental disorders and behaviors like hoarding and aggression, according to information from the state association. It's believed that early education programs can help deter those problems. Michelle Daugherty, KCR family services support coordinator, said the apparent uptick in homelessness in Kitsap stems from the recession. In some instances, families were evicted because landlords had their properties foreclosed. Others lost their jobs, or couldn't keep pace with the rising cost of housing. Recent applicants to KCR's programs include two survivors of domestic violence and their children. The mothers fled their homes, but now find themselves without a breadwinner. Another woman, who recently spent several months behind bars, shares a small home with 10 other adults and kids. Her family also meets the definition of homeless. "They're trying to do what's right for them and their children with no income at all," Daugherty said. Homeless advocate Beverly Kincaid, former president of the United Way of Kitsap County, said KCR's heightened enrollment only begins to tell the story of homelessness at the local level. When KCR received a special two-year stimulus grant to help prevent homelessness and rapid rehousing, the request for KCR services spiked with the added resources, Kincaid said. "Once the information was 'on the streets' that KCR had funds available, people would naturally show up for homelessness assistance," she wrote in an email. A more telling example of Kitsap's rising homelessness, she said, is the wait-list at Benedict House, the only shelter and transitional residence for homeless men in Bremerton. And there are other indicators of rising homelessness. According to data provided by Kitsap County Health District, the number of people requiring food stamps has gradually increased in recent years and requests-for-assistance calls to the county's 2-1-1 system by people identifying themselves as homeless also is up.

Number of homeless children continues to rise in Kitsap

By Maks Goldenshteyn
Published Sunday, April 3, 2011

Higher than usual enrollment in Kitsap Community Resources' early education programs suggests that the number of homeless children in Kitsap has continued to rise in recent years.

With three months left in the current program year, KCR has 521 participants enrolled in its three early-learning programs for children of low-income families. The share of homeless children enrolled has swelled to 18 percent, up 5 percent from the 2009-2010 program year when 13 percent of the 563 children enrolled were homeless.

At 18 percent, the number of homeless children is about twice the state average for the current program year, according to Katy Warren with the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, a Bellevue-based early learning advocacy group.

"I've been looking at other parts of the state and Kitsap isn't the very highest I've seen so far," Warren said. "But it's definitely among the highest."

Enrollment figures from KCR's Early Head Start — a program for children up to 5 years old — are more striking. Of the 102 participants enrolled so far, 25 percent are homeless. That's up 5 percent from last year.

To be eligible for either the state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program or the federal Head Start program, a child's family must be at or near the federal poverty level — which is an annual income of about $22,000 for a family of four.

Aside from preparing low-income children for school, Head Start families can receive housing subsidies, referrals to shelters, medical services and assistance with food and clothing.

Modeled after Head Start, ECEAP provides education, health and nutrition screenings and family support.

Research shows that homeless children are more likely than their peers to develop emotional and behavioral problems. Instability and increased levels of stress often manifest themselves in higher incidence of mental disorders and behaviors like hoarding and aggression, according to information from the state association.

It's believed that early education programs can help deter those problems.

Michelle Daugherty, KCR family services support coordinator, said the apparent uptick in homelessness in Kitsap stems from the recession. In some instances, families were evicted because landlords had their properties foreclosed. Others lost their jobs, or couldn't keep pace with the rising cost of housing.

Recent applicants to KCR's programs include two survivors of domestic violence and their children. The mothers fled their homes, but now find themselves without a breadwinner.

Another woman, who recently spent several months behind bars, shares a small home with 10 other adults and kids. Her family also meets the definition of homeless.

"They're trying to do what's right for them and their children with no income at all," Daugherty said.

Homeless advocate Beverly Kincaid, former president of the United Way of Kitsap County, said KCR's heightened enrollment only begins to tell the story of homelessness at the local level.

When KCR received a special two-year stimulus grant to help prevent homelessness and rapid rehousing, the request for KCR services spiked with the added resources, Kincaid said.

"Once the information was 'on the streets' that KCR had funds available, people would naturally show up for homelessness assistance," she wrote in an email.

A more telling example of Kitsap's rising homelessness, she said, is the wait-list at Benedict House, the only shelter and transitional residence for homeless men in Bremerton.

And there are other indicators of rising homelessness. According to data provided by Kitsap County Health District, the number of people requiring food stamps has gradually increased in recent years and requests-for-assistance calls to the county's 2-1-1 system by people identifying themselves as homeless also is up.