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19 <br />• “…these are our neighbors…the majority are our community members…they are from <br />here.” <br />• “Asking people what they feel about homelessness won’t help. Instead ask what some <br />possible answers are for bettering these individuals in the community.” <br />Law Enforcement/Local Government: Participants discussed the following key messages. <br />▪ What services are and aren’t available. <br />▪ The majority of people who are homeless in Kittitas County are from the county; only a <br />small percentage are from out of the area. <br />▪ The shelter has to go somewhere. <br />▪ Not addressing the issue won’t make it go away. <br />▪ It is more costly to deal with people who are unhoused (law enforcement) <br />▪ Communicate the success of the behavioral health court. <br />▪ Debunk negative stereotypes, it’s often situational instead of due to the individual. <br />Methods for distribution of messages discussed were social media through ad campaigns, <br />repetition, and persuasive messaging; community group presentations (i.e., Rotary, churches, etc.) <br />and presenting the homeless plan to the community via the county commissioners and city council. <br />• “I think there’s a perception that they’re being bussed in here or they see there’s a cold <br />weather shelter, so they come here. Of the numbers, that’s a very small percentage— <br />people coming just for the services in the county.” <br />• “…I think most people in the county want to have that emergency housing, like a sleep <br />center, they just don’t want it next to them. How do you make them understand, it has to <br />go somewhere? Not everyone will be happy.” <br />• “There’s a perception that if we don’t have anything available, the problem will go away.” <br />Community Members: Key messages discussed were: <br />▪ It’s not going to go away even if you don’t support. <br />▪ Not necessarily their fault (mental health, unable to work) <br />▪ Many people are 1 paycheck away. <br />▪ People experiencing homelessness are our neighbors, they are not scary. <br />Methods for distributing messages included professional presentation of messages through a public <br />affairs person, presenting at committees, encouraging volunteerism and involvement with community <br />service, and sharing personal experiences. <br />• “They’re not nearly as scary as the media would have us think. They are just people <br />trying to get by. In my experience, the vast majority are people who are kind and <br />generally good neighbors.” <br />• “On an individual level, it’s about calling out disinformation and correcting…and being <br />bold in doing so.” <br />Central Washington University: Key messages shared were: <br />▪ These are human beings who have been through some trauma and being homeless <br />exacerbates that trauma. <br />▪ Education about who the homeless are in this community and what their actual needs are, <br />versus perceived needs. <br />▪ It could happen to you, it could happen to anyone.