Maybe it's the cold. Certainly the recent snowfall adds to it. And perhaps it's recalling the recent holiday festivities and food that most, but not all, of us enjoyed. But we have homelessness on the mind.
A $600,000 federal grant last month will keep 88 Tri-Citians from losing their housing this year. That will be a big help for those 88 people.
At the same time, homelessness in the Tri-Cities is rising.
Judith Gidley, Community Action Committee executive director, says the waiting list for people in need of services continues to grow.
She describes this segment of our population as the "working poor" -- always on the edge of making it to the next paycheck.
More than 600 families requested assistance in Benton County in 2009. The CAC was able to grant only 149 of those applications. We have to wonder what happened to the other 451 families.
It's a sobering reflection, without an easy answer. And we're not sure what can be done about it. Most of us don't have a spare half-million dollars.
Set that thought aside for a minute and consider the date of Jan. 28, 2010. That is the day of the statewide homeless count.
On that day, volunteers from the Mid-Columbia take a "picture" of our community. This snapshot tells us how many people were without a place to call home the night before.
Armed with that information, state and local agencies can formulate a plan to combat homelessness.
Unlike the general homelessness plight, there is something individuals can do to help. This count is conducted largely by volunteers. And those volunteers are men and women who will commit two hours of their time to survey our community, face-to-face.
Potential volunteers should call Cricket Cordova at 545-4042 or e-mail her at ccordova@bgcac.org.
It's something to consider. And you don't need a half-million dollars to help out with this effort.
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Tri-City volunteers count the homeless
Tri-City volunteers count the homeless
The dense underbrush under trees in Columbia Park didn't indicate anyone had been using the area as a temporary home.
Christina Canida of Kennewick looked for signs of footprints in the patches of ice and snow that covered the mostly dry grasses. She and Steve Gaulke of Richland, another volunteer for Thursday's one-day homeless count, had been told some people might be camping out in Kennewick near Clover Island.
So they looked along the Sacagawea Heritage Trail and in covered places that looked somewhat protected from the winter weather.
Project Warm-up volunteers run short of materials
Project Warm-up volunteers run short of materials
Holli Calder-Cox has the volunteers.
What Project Warm-up's director doesn't have are the yarn, fleece and flannel for volunteers to knit, crochet and sew hats and other items to help keep some Tri-Citians warm.
The lack of materials comes after the program spent almost all year homeless. The all-volunteer program was housed at the Benton Franklin Volunteer Center, but when the nonprofit closed in January 2010, Calder-Cox said the group lost its space.
Mid-Columbia volunteers generous with their time
Mid-Columbia volunteers generous with their time
It's not surprising these days to hear of an agency or a company announcing cutbacks. Unfortunately, it's become the rule rather than the exception.
The Corps of Engineers is looking at a $669,000 shortfall this year. We suppose that is to be expected.
What is surprising, however, is its strategy for dealing with it.
Salvation Army feeds 45 families on Thanksgiving (w/ gallery)
Salvation Army feeds 45 families on Thanksgiving (w/ gallery)
RICHLAND — About four dozen community members were thankful to the Salvation Army and more than 80 volunteers who spent their Thanksgiving Day giving back to others.
The Salvation Army and its volunteers prepared dinner -- 21 turkeys and all the trimmings -- to serve 125-150 people in Richland.
Numbers were down this year -- only 45 people arrived at the Thayer Drive building for the Thanksgiving Day meal -- but those who did were grateful the Salvation Army was able to provide a place for them to go.
Day shelter opening in Kennewick
Day shelter opening in Kennewick
KENNEWICK -- Homeless Tri-Citians soon will have a place where they can go during the day for a shower, to do laundry or just get some help.
Therapeutic Innovations & Recovery is opening this month in Kennewick as the area's first homeless day shelter. It will be called Ken and Teresa's Place.
The idea is to build relationships and trust with people who are homeless, said Cindy Fransen, clinical director of the fledgling nonprofit.
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