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dependents or a disabitity, tack of tenant history, being hometess but housed, having pets, <br />fit1ing out muttipte intakes, and not having an address. Things that worked wett inctuded <br />funding to hetp with finding emptoyment and support with ctothing and hygiene, seeking <br />mental heatth services, having good attitude and being non-judgmentat, having peopte <br />advocate for you, and support with addiction and sober housing' <br />With limited resources in Kittitas County, what would you prioritize to address <br />homelessne.ss? Shelter services and transitional housing were the most prominent of <br />priorities, atong with meeting basic needs through services, increasing affordabte housing, <br />addressing behaviorat heatth, and communication with the pubtic. Addressing barriers and <br />addressing stigma were other areas that were discussed. <br />Previous priorities have included increasing affordable housing, increasing shelter and other <br />support services, preventing homelessness, improving the homeless response system, ond <br />expanding community engagement, awareness, and education. Are these still priorities or <br />have they shifted? Generatty, participants agreed that these priorities are stitt relevant and <br />that more work needs to continue to be done in these areas. Other priorities discussed <br />incLuded addressing behavioral heatth, expanding awareness about services avaitabte, <br />imptementing rapid rehousing programs, and reducing stigma through community education. <br />What should be the key messages to the community obout homelessness and people <br />experiencing homelessness? How can we effectively share this informotion? Most key <br />messages shared had to do with reducing stigma about peopte experiencing hometessness. <br />A common key message that arose is that peopte experiencing hometessness are human <br />beings and are our neighbors. Many peopte in the community don't realize how ctose they <br />coutd be to experiencing hometessness. Additional.ty, getting information out about the <br />resources avaitabte, the causes of hometessness, and the impacts of homelessness on the <br />community were discussed. Primary ways of getting information to the community were <br />social media and an ontine presence, an education campaign, and community presentations. <br />Key Takeaways <br />. The perception is that the hometessness probtem has stayed the same or worsened in the <br />past few years, possibty due to increased visibitity as wetl as economic factors. <br />. Housing and basic needs must be addressed prior to addressing employment and behavioral <br />health needs. <br />. However, behaviorat heatth issues are common among peopte experiencing hometessness <br />and shoutd be a priority. <br />. lt's not so much an unwittingness to participate as it is an inabitity to participate in <br />services due to multipte barriers. <br />. Stigma towards peopte experiencing hometessness by both the community and service <br />providers is a major concern. <br />. Navigating the system is complicated and a lot of work; having personal advocates to hetp <br />woutd be beneficiat. <br />. The community needs more emergency housing, shetter services, and transitional housing <br />options. <br />. The lack of affordabte housing is a major concern. <br />3