1. Kittitas County 5-Year Homelessness Plan 2025-2030

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. "...these are our neighbors...the majority are our community members...they are from here. ". "Asking peopte what they feel about hometessness won't help. lnstead ask what some possibte answers are for bettering these individuals in the community." Low EnforcementlLocal Governmenf: Participants discussed the fo[towing key messages. . What services are and aren't availabte ' The majority of people who are homeless in Kittitas County are from the county; onty a sma[[ percentage are from out of the area. The shetter has to go somewhere. Not addressing the issue won't make it go away. lt is more costty to deal with people who are unhoused (taw enforcement). Communicate the success of the behavioral health court. Debunk negative stereotypes, it's often situational instead of due to the individuat Methods for distribution of messages discussed were social media through ad campaigns, repetition, and persuasive messaging; community group presentations (i.e. Rotary, churches, etc.), and presenting the hometess ptan to the community via the county commissioners and city councit. . "l think there's a perception that they're being bussed in here or they see there's a cotd weather shetter, so they come here. Of the numbers, that's a very sma[[ percentage- peopte coming just for the services in the county. ". "...1 think most people in the county want to have that emergency housing, tike a steep center, they just don't want it next to them. How do you make them understand, it has to go somewhere? Not everyone witt be happy.". "There's a perception that if we don't have anything avaitabte, the probtem witt go away." Community Allembers: Key messages discussed were: . lt's not going to go away even if you don't support. Not necessarity their fault (mental health, unabte to work). Many peopte are 1 paycheck away. Peopte experiencing homelessness are our neighbors, they are not scary Methods for distributing messages inctuded professionaI presentation of messages through a pubtic affairs person, presenting at committees, encouraging volunteerism and invotvement with community service, and sharing personal experiences. . "They're not nearty as scary as the media would have us think. They are just peopte trying to get by. ln my experience, the vast majority are peopte who are kind and generatly good neighbors. ". "On an individual levet, it's about calting out disinformation and correcting...and being botd in doing so." Central Washington University: Key messages shared were: . These are human beings who have been through some trauma and being homeless exacerbates that trauma. Education about who the hometess are in this community and what their actual needs are, versus perceived needs. lt coutd happen to you, it could happen to anyone 16