People Experiencing Homelessness: FAQs

Recognizing that we are talking about people first is important. Being homeless doesn’t define someone. It describes their situation. Labels are powerful. Think about someone you encounter as a person experiencing homelessness.

The world of those experiencing homelessness may seem far from your own world, but the loss of a job, the death of a spouse, or a severe physical disability could be the route to total despair for many of us. Many Americans are only a few paychecks away from being homeless. Even for people who are struggling to survive by “couch-surfing” with friends and relatives, the toll on their lives, remaining relationships, and self-esteem is debilitating and can seem irreparable. Children are especially vulnerable if they are homeless for any or all of their childhood.

We each make our own decisions about whom to help and how and it’s important to remember that even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way.

How many children are experiencing homelessness in Whatcom County?

Two sources are regularly cited when talking about local numbers of children experiencing homelessness: The Whatcom County Point in Time Count (PIT Count) and Homeless Students in School Data. It is important to know where these numbers are coming from and how they are reached:

School districts and the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) report data on homelessness that is different than the countywide annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count in two important respects. First, the Point in Time Count is a snapshot of homelessness on a single day in the community, whereas the data reported by schools are cumulative over the course of a school year. Second, the PIT Count data include only people who are literally homeless, meaning those people who are unsheltered, in emergency shelter, or in transitional housing. In addition to those three categories, school districts also report as homelessness as those children who are doubled-up with another family to prevent becoming literally homeless, and youth awaiting temporary foster placements. (Whatcom County Coalition to End Homelessness 2019 Annual Report)

For more information, read the 2022 Whatcom County Point in Time Report.

Can students who are experiencing homelessness receive assistance?

Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Act, all unhoused students have the right to:

• Continue attending classes at the school they were attending when they or their family lost their home

• Enroll immediately in classes, even if they don’t currently have the required registration documents

• Receive transportation to the school if requested

• Free school meals

Contact a Family Support Coordinator to determine if your child is McKinney-Vento eligible and/or to request services.

How do I interact with people on the street?

One of the first steps in interacting with someone in a vulnerable place is to see them, not ignore them. Say "hello" with eye contact. Give everyone the same courtesy and respect you would your friends or family. Treat them as you would wish to be treated if you needed assistance and respond with kindness.

When I see people begging or standing with signs on the street, what do I do? Should I give them money or food? How do I make sure that they aren’t spending it on drugs or alcohol?

If you choose to give, give your gift with no strings attached or expectation of how they will use it. Empowering people to set their own priorities of how they can best use the money is a sign of respect and an additional gift you are giving the recipient. If you cannot “let go” of needing to know what the money will be spent for, choose another way to help.

If you feel uncomfortable giving money, here are some other ways you can help:

• Gift cards: Buy gift cards at local coffee shops, grocery stores, fast food restaurants, etc., to hand out instead of cash.

• Care or Food packages: Pack a Ziplock baggie with food items you can hand out: pre-wrapped energy/protein bars, cheese crackers, water bottle or juice box, and other portable snacks. You could also include other items that are always needed: a new pair of warm, wool socks is a treasure to people living on the street. Other things that could be included are band aids, toothpaste, lip balm, comb, washcloth, wet wipes, tissues, and small, hotel-sized soaps and shampoo. Feminine hygiene items are especially appreciated by women. One thing to keep in mind: many people who have struggled with chronic homelessness may have dental health issues and hard food items cannot be eaten easily.

• Other important needs you can help with: Bus passes are very helpful, and can be purchased at the Whatcom Transportation Authority office. Purchase gift cards to restaurants, even a $10 gift card will provide a meal. Consider saving your free coffee cards and giving them to someone in need.

Veterans

Veterans who are unhoused are entitled to medical and disability benefits they may not know about. The Whatcom County Veterans Program phone number is 360-778-6000.

Where can the hungry find food?

• There are a number of places where those in need can find food and hot meals: Food and Meal Resources in Whatcom County.

• The CAST Program provides simple meals three evenings a week in downtown Bellingham.

How can I get my family and children involved?

Educate your children about homelessness – talk about reasons people become homeless and what we all can do to help those who are vulnerable. Help your children to see people as people, regardless of their current situation. Use respectful language and explain to them why you are describing them as “people experiencing homelessness” (person first language). If you want to do volunteer work and take your child along, check with the organization first as there may be age limits for certain volunteer opportunities. However, there are many things you can do as a family that will model and teach compassion, as well as help:

• Volunteer as a family in a soup kitchen or shelter. The local Bellingham Community Meal program is a good place for families to volunteer.

• Organize your child’s class or school to collect gently-used coats for Interfaith Coalition’s Winter Coat Drive or conduct a new sock drive to collect socks that can be handed out at the shelters, food programs, etc. Collect for Whatcom food banks. Classes can do fundraisers to purchase gift cards, wool socks, other other items that are useful for someone in need of an extra hand.

• Put together care or food packages (see suggested items previously listed) that you can hand out when you encounter someone in need.

What are other ways that I can help?

• Because Interfaith Coalition operates multiple transitional housing units for families, we often have emergent needs for volunteers with little advance notice. Helping with house maintenance work, helping move a family into or out of our housing, spending some time in a winter or spring yard spruce-up project, etc. Visit our volunteer page for more information and other ways you can help through Interfaith Coalition programs or fill out a Volunteer Application now.

• You can volunteer and/or donate to the local Food Banks all over Whatcom County. Some of the Food Banks coordinate unique programs for gardeners, gleaners, etc.

• Put your hobbies to work – Knit warm hats and scarves to donate to Interfaith Coalition who will direct these items to those who need them in our housing, CAST, Winter Coat Drive, etc. Do you have yarn but don’t knit? Donate your yarn and we’ll give it to knitters who will transform your gift into hats and scarves for others.

• Talk with your county and state government officials about your concerns. Write letters, e-mail, call, or visit public officials at the city, county, state and federal levels asking what they are doing about homelessness and/or mentioning relevant legislation. When legislators receive more than a few visits or letters about any subject, they sit up and take notice. Personal visits are the most powerful; letters, e-mails, and phone calls are next.

  Follow local politics. Attend neighborhood and public meetings and speak up in favor of low-income housing, group homes, shelters, and homelessness prevention programs.

  Educate your leaders. Organize site visits for political leaders and the media to visit local homeless programs to highlight ways that your community is successfully addressing the homelessness crisis. (via National Coalition for the Homeless)

What Do I Do If…

...I see someone who appears to need help or seems inebriated, ill, acting erratically, suffering from the heat/cold/extreme weather, or is unconscious?
When you see a homeless person being harassed, who is severely inebriated, or in need of medical attention, this would be a 911 call.

...I think one of my child’s classmates is experiencing homelessness. How do help without offending or embarrassing them?
Contact the school counselor or principal to share your concern or ask how you may be able to help. Refrain from addressing the family directly – you do not know if your help is needed or wanted, and please do not talk to other school families about your questions. Connecting with the school is your first step, and let them guide you on what you can do.

Federal law guarantees all children and youth the right to an equal education regardless of living situation. It also ensures other efforts to eliminate barriers that delay or prevent students from being able to participate fully in school activities. Schools have staff who work with families in unstable housing, and help them access available resources. The Bellingham School District has a Family Support Program.