[ also in this issue ]

* Interview with author Richard LeMieux | 6

* Guide to local outreach organizations | 8

* COLUMN: Experiencing homelessness up close | 5

Volume I | Issue 1october 19, 2010

HOMELESS

2 Focal Point October 19, 2010

[ staff ]Editor

Kaylee Woods

Editorial StaffKaylee Woods

Christopher CarterJosh Nothnagle

CrEativE dESignChristopher Carter

John RodriguezMorgan Newhouse

adviSErMichael Prince

1600 Chester Ave.Tech Building 101

Bremerton, WA 98337

about uS

The Focal Point is a special section of

The Olympian, the award-winning student-produced newspaper of Olympic College. The Olympian and The Focal Point is gener-ally published every two weeks during the fall, winter and spring quarter and online year-round.

The Olympian is a program of Student Services and is funded by both Student Activi-ties Fees and through advertising. It is a mem-ber of the Associated Collegiate Press.

The Focal Point and The Olympian wel-comes all student, staff and faculty contribu-tions and letters.

LettersLetters to the editor

must be typed and 300 words or less. Writers must include name, ad-dress, phone number and e-mail for verifica-tion.

Letters may be sub-mitted in person or by e-mail to olyeditor@olympic.edu.

The Olympian re-serves the right to edit, condense or reject any letter.

THE FOCAL POINT | www.ocolympian.com | Phone (360) 475-7690 | e-mail olyeditor@olympic.edu

What do you think of the homeless situation in Kitsap County

I just think any kind of homelessness is a problem.-Brandy Planterrs

I really think we need more community help.

-Jenoelle Davis

I don’t think there are a lot of them.-Kristil Finley

Sometimes it’s really hard to decipher if

they’re really homeless or not.

-Briana Haskell

What you’re looking at is the first issue of The Focal Point.

We plan on using this publication as a venue to do in-depth reporting on issues that resonate not only with the Olympic College community, but could be relevant throughout the country.

We have chosen to tackle the social epidemic of homelessness for our first issue. This is an issue that hits home for more people on campus than you might think. We have homeless students, we have faculty and staff who have been homeless and there are students and staff who may be living on the brink.

The goal of this publication isn’t to convince you of anything, and it is not meant to change your stance on any issues we cover. Our goal is to report on issues in a fair and unbiased way. We will do our best to include all sides of an issue. When you finish reading an issue of The Focal

Point, whether you agree with the topics and viewpoints or not, we hope you will come away fully informed.

The Focal Point will be included in most issues of The Olympian. In addition to the written reporting, The Focal Point will also contain more images and graphics than a typical story in The Olympian would.

Feedback is not only encouraged, but requested. Comment on the stories on the website, write us an e-mail, mail us a letter or contact us by any means you see fit. We want to know what you have to say on the topics we discuss.

Many issues addressed by The Focal Point will also be topics of discussion for The Olympian’s audio podcast, Press Time. With your thoughts and feedback, we will be able to ask the questions on your mind, or raise your concerns.

-Kaylee Woods and Josh Nothnagle

Welcome to The Focal Point:This is about you.

The Focal Point 3October 19, 2010

Olympic College students, like Jarrett, face endless obstacles while chasing a degree, for some those obstacles go beyond the

Financial Aid line and paying for books.Homelessness is the fourth largest issue reported

by students to the Students in Need Group. Homelessness within the OC community is a present and very real issue.

From May 2009 – April 2010 Department of Social Health Services reported an increase in the homeless population of nearly 4,000 individuals. That put the count at 26,138 individuals who reported being homeless in Kitsap County for the month of April.

Of those citizens 10,460 were children ages 18 and under. Fourty percent of the homeless population in

Kitsap County are children.In April there were 1,644 families receiving DSHS

food benefits that reported being homeless. The most recent count took place in September and yielded 1,756 households that were dependent on DSHS food assistance.

Based on trends in the Point in Time Counts, a voluntary census conducted to obtain a count of the homeless population, conducted by DSHS, The number of homeless individuals has continued steadily increasing since April.

There are currently 130 families, 398 people, on the Kitsap Community Resources waiting list for emergency shelter. These waiting lists are also increasing steadily with the homeless population;

however the resources in Kitsap County are struggling to meet these growing needs.

This continuing increase seemed to gain speed with the onset of the “Great Recession” beginning in 2007. Due to the declining economy, layoffs, and the rising cost of living, The Salvation Army and several

home. home. house.

Less than a year ago, Leon Jarrett was making more money than he ever had in his life. His son was taking college prep courses, excited about the potential for art school, and the two drove around town in a shiny white Chevy Aveo.

Now, 47-year-old Jarrett is forced to ask strangers in grocery store parking lots for enough cash to pay for a bridge toll. And, when he and his 15-year-old son can't crash on someone's couch for the night, they call the Aveo home — a reality that gives Jarrett a new lens from which to view

society around him."A house doesn't make a home," he said.

Smoking a Marlboro cigarette and reading a yellowed and tattered science-fiction novel with its cover missing, Jarret took a break from class at the Olympic College Bremerton campus. He looks up, takes a drag, and returns to the book. He is now a student in the OC College Skills and Life

Training program hoping to get life back on track and end up back home, wherever that is.As homeless students go, he’s not alone.

A house doesn’t mAke A homeStory By Kaylee Woods

PhotoS By Christopher CarterIlluStratIonS By Morgan neWhouse

“The help is out there. It’s the despair that is hard to get over.”

Leon JarrettOn being homeless

see homeless pg 4

4 Focal Point October 19, 2010

other local assistance organizations have become all too familiar for many.

“The main causes [of homelessness] that are reported are mental illness, substance abuse, and the new one is the economy,” said Liz Wallace, Social Services secretary for The Salvation Army.

Jarrett knows about the latter two all-too-well.

Jarrett said he hasn’t taken narcotics in more than 25 years but he was fired from Puget Sound Energy, where he was earning more than $25 an hour, in January after failing a random urine analysis test. He tested positive for marijuana.

“It was my weekend thing,” he said. “Because of pot, they lost their best agent.”

The Salvation Army is a prominent source of assistance in the community. They offer food and utility assistance, as well as basic hygiene services such as haircuts, toiletries and clothing. They also run a small food bank and offer government food commodities. As well as their basic assistance services they work with regional homeless shelters and the Missing Person’s Bureau. They also organize free 6-month residential programs at the Adult Rehabilitation

Center in Seattle.The multitude of services offered

by The Salvation Army are necessary for many families to make ends meet every month. Because of the increasing number of households seeking assistance and the limitations placed on the organization by federal budget regulations they are only allowed to offer utility assistance once per household every 12 months.

Along with The Salvation Army, KCR and the Coffee Oasis are reaching out to the homeless population and offering assistance. The Coffee Oasis conducts an outreach program to contact and support “school aged youth”, ages 13 – 25 who are dealing with the trying conditions of homelessness.

The Coffee Oasis also runs a small ministry at their Bremerton branch Sundays. A free dinner is served every Friday night.

KCR works with multiple facets of homelessness and different situations of need. They offer emergency housing, childcare, domestic violence, and substance abuse recovery as well as DSHS, food assistance and job training.

Jarrett said without the help KCR has given him, he doesn’t know where he would be now. He’s currently on a waiting list for emergency housing so he can take his son out of a troubled household where they’re temporarily staying.

“You can’t raise a child in chaos,” he said.

Although Jarrett isn’t having to sleep in his cramped Aveo at the moment, there was a time when that’s the only place he had to lay his head. And, thanks to KCR’s Safe Park program, he felt he could do so safely.

“Me and my son were bouncing around for awhile,” he said of the month or so he spent living out of the car. That also marked the lowest Jarrett has felt.

“It was one step up from sleeping on a park bench,” he said.

According to the KCR website, “[Our mission is] to create hope and opportunity for low-income Kitsap County residents by providing resources that promote self-sufficiency.”

With the current state of the economy, job training has become an important element to their assistance

program. Lack of training, education, or marketable skills can lead to layoffs, which have caused many people to turn to The Salvation Army or KCR.

“People are trying to relearn and reeducate, they’re trying to get back in the job market without important competitive skills,” said Patricia Thomas.

A collaborative effort exists between KCR and the Kitsap Continuum for Care Coalition. Both organizations work with the intent of providing

the necessary resources for people to get the assistance they need in order to become self-sustaining, efficient individuals.

OC has responded to the difficult times with the fairly recent formation of the Students in Need Group. Directed by Patricia Thomas, SING was created to connect students with the resources they need to assist them with whatever situations they are faced with.

“This program came at a critical time,” said Thomas. “I don’t see these circumstances getting better very soon. I don’t see a quick way out of it, we just try and make these difficult

points in their lives as manageable as possible.”

For students like Jarrett, the most difficult part is knowing where to go and how to ask for help.

“The help is out there,” he said. “It’s the despair that’s hard to get over.”

He also said homelessness can take a harmful toll on the human condition.

“It’s easy to slip into a state of mind and heart when you don’t see the end of the tunnel.”

As far as homeless students are

concerned, SING would be a primary resource that is present on campus, and networks actively with outside organizations. Homeless students are present on campus, and they have begun seeking the assistance of Thomas and SING.

“I have been surprised,” said Thomas. “They’re all in different stages of homelessness. I’ve seen three just this week.”

Sally Santana is a predominant advocate for SING. She has recently

from homeless pg 3

Leon Jarrett takes a smoke break against his Chevy Aveo parked near Olympic College. Jarrett and his 15-year-old son have had to sleep in the car.

Leon Jarrett demonstrates how he slept while he and his 15-year-old son took advantage of Kitsap Community Resource’s Safe Park program after he lost his job in January.

“I don’t see these circumstances getting better very soon. I don’t see a quick way out of it, we just try and make these difficult points in their lives as manageable as possible.”

Patricia thomasDirector, Students In Need Group at Olympic College

On connecting students with available resources

see homeless pg 5

The Focal Point 5October 19, 2010

received a $25,000 grant through the Birkenfeld Humanitarian Award. She has chosen to donate that money to SING. Santana is an active volunteer throughout the homeless community. She writes a bi-weekly column for the Kitsap Sun, and produces the “Homeless in Kitsap” newsletter.

“I move information out into the community, I’m a networker,” said Santana. “One of the critical pieces is communicating and networking between these organizations. We’re trying to raise the light on what homelessness is, how many are out there.”

One element that all organizations face problems with is shelter. KCR organizes emergency shelter, but they have an overflowing waitlist. The Salvation Army is able to send people to the local men’s shelter, Benedict House, and the women and children’s shelter based out of St. Vincent De Paul.

As an alternative to compensate for a lack of shelter in the area, a safe park was formed in Poulsbo, which provides an option for women and their children to sleep in their vehicles in a safe designated parking lot.

Homeless camps have been formed throughout Kitsap County at multiple locations. The Bremerton Rescue Mission’s temporary housing project, a Family Safe Camp is also in the beginning stages of planning and construction. The Safe Camp would be built on 2.2 acres of land in the East Bremerton-Manette area.

Although Jarrett has been able to avoid resorting to pitching a tent in the woods, he’s still teetering on the edge. However, despite being without any foreseeable income and having to take care of a teenage son, the 47-year-old keeps a fresh perspective on life.

“I’m on my way back up,” he said

of his current situation. He hopes to be assigned emergency housing through KCR while also finishing his certificate through Olympic College. With it, he wants to start on the path to becoming a local area network administrator.

“It’s what I have been doing my whole career just haven’t been paid for it.”

Jarrett said it’s important for others in a similar situation to his to remember to continue pushing on rather than giving up.

However, he also said he’s living proof that homelessness can become a reality to virtually anyone at any time.

“I went from $26 an hour to zip,” he said. “Don’t be ashamed. It can happen to anybody and it’s not necessarily your fault.”

Jarrett also offers advice to anyone struggling to make ends meet.

“Be careful who you associate with. You don’t have to compromise yourself or sell yourself.”

from homeless pg 4

By Josh NothNagleEditor-in-Chief

“Thank you Father for the food you give us,” said Walt LeCouteur, executive director for the Bremerton Rescue Mission to a group of people gathered at The Hub in Bremerton for a spaghetti dinner Friday.

That’s when I was struck by the reality of the situation, not just the words, but the honest gratitude of the people in attendance; not only for the food, but for the ability to eat that night.

The hardest part is “when I don’t have work,” said Adam, a 30-year-old homeless man, “and having to go down there and flying a damn sign. You feel like a moron.”

They come together at these meals not just to eat dinner, but also to check the donated cloths, take a shower if there’s time, and they visit with friends; old and new.

A reoccurring thought in my head while I was sitting there is how much they are willing to give from their meager means. But so many, with so much, even if only relatively, hesitate to help.

After the dinner, they return to their homes. Some of them live in their cars, some live with a friend, some have managed to hold on to their own place and some live in the woods.

I came to find people who live in the woods. I wanted to find out how they live, what they do to get by. That dinner is where I met Adam.

Adam lives in a wooded area approximately 250 feet from highway 303 near East Bremerton and has been homeless for eight years. That means Adam became homeless before Mark

Zuckerberg created Facebook, the war in Iraq had begun, and before the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas.

In his time, he has become known by his peers as an expert scout when it comes to finding and preparing camp sights. He was “The Mayor” of a previous camp, and spent approximately two months preparing a new location for him and three other homeless men.

Each man has his own tent, with bedding, and a tarp over the top to block the rain and provide shade on hot days. They share a kitchen area, where Adam does most of the cooking for the group. They have also designated a latrine area away from their living space. And they have electricity.

Olympic College student Jeremy Bell helped the group by providing them with solar panels to replace some Adam found with his brother. The panels send electricity to a set of car batteries that he keeps under his tent which store the energy until it is ready to use. Because of this, the men are able to keep their cell phones charged, and listen to the radio.

Because he has a phone, Adam is able to work two or three days a week as a day laborer. He worked for Labor Ready for six years, but said he took it upon himself to find something else, so he asked for work, and that’s what he got.

Asking for what you need is not something new for Adam, or for the men he lives with.

“There is a code amongst the homeless,” said Steve, one of Adam’s campmates. “If you need something, you ask.”

There is a good chance you could drive past Adam’s site this winter, and never realize 250 feet away, there are four men, struggling to keep warm; and stay optimistic about better days.

Camping and conversation with some of Kitsap’s homeless

“There is a code amongst the homeless. If you need

something, you ask.”Steve

Homeless

6 Focal Point October 19, 2010

Story and PhotoS By ChriStoPher Carter

Staff Writer

Seven years ago Richard LeMieux was living in his van and considered ending it all with a plunge from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge — today, the experience is still fresh in his mind.

It has also been nearly two years since the Kitsap author and former sports writer shared with the Olympic College community his experience living on the streets of downtown Bremerton and he is preparing to release a second book while still penning a third.

LeMieux is enjoying the success of his first book, “Breakfast at Sally’s,” and the impact it’s had on the homeless community as he travels the country speaking about his life and the lessons he has learned. While his story has been credited with raising awareness around the issue of homelessness, LeMieux said it’s still a pervasive — and sometimes ignored — issue.

“The face of homeless has changed,” he said, adding there are disturbing trends that have changed even in the last decade. “The fastest growing group of homeless people is young people and that is a disgrace in our society.”

LeMieux said there is a fundamental problem with the public’s perception of homeless, especially in Kitsap County. He said homelessness

is less obvious in an area like Bremerton while the issue is far more visible and promotes a negative stereotype in major metropolitan cities like Seattle.

“We’re used to thinking of people wandering around Pioneer Square with a wine bottle in their hand,” he said.

LeMieux said the public underestimates the problem in smaller cities in part because of a phenomenon known as rural homeless.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, a

Washington D.C. - based non-profit, rural homelessness is less obvious to the average small town resident because, “there are far fewer shelters in rural areas than in urban areas; therefore, people experiencing homelessness are less likely to live on the street or in a shelter and more likely to live in a car or camper, or with relatives in overcrowded or substandard housing. Restricting definitions of homelessness to include only those who are literally homeless - that is,

on the streets or in shelters - does not fit well with the rural reality.”

LeMieux calls them simply, “the people you don’t see.”

Community outreach organizations like Kitsap Community Resources and Olympic College’s Students in Need group have brought attention to the issue, promoting services for youth and women especially. However, as long as there are people on the street, LeMieux said he is hesitant to say the problem is getting solved.

“Anyone on the streets needs a roof over their heads,” he said.

One of LeMieux’s themes in his life, stories and in his books is what he calls, “the daily miracles” and whether you can see the homeless or not, LeMieux said the public’s attitude has to change before the problem has an opportunity to fix itself.

“My story is that people helped me survive,” he said, adding that society as a whole lacks compassion — a trend he hopes to end.

“We have become a throw-away society,” he said.

LeMieux’s third book, another non-fiction account tentatively titled Saint Mitty, is about Bremerton resident Mildred Pratt and her interactions with the city’s homeless. LeMieux said he witnessed Pratt take multiple strangers into her home to feed them and keep them out of the weather.

LeMieux credits Pratt and organizations like The Salvation Army for taking in the homeless, but acknowledges not everyone is capable. Each person has

his or her own unique way of helping, he said.

As he travels from coast to coast, LeMieux said for him, contribution comes in the form of the written word.

“The path — the journey — I’m in is to find ways to inspire others. It seems like such a little thing to do.”

For his work with the homeless, LeMieux will be honored by Seattle’s Operation Nightwatch organization with the annual Hero of the Homeless award Nov. 23 at Seattle Center.

Catching up with a homeless ‘hero’ and local author

“The fastest growing group of homeless

people is young people and that is a

disgrace in our society.”

RichaRd LeMieuxOn the rise in youth

homelessness

Richard LeMieux talks to The Focal Point about homeless youth and his next two books

The Focal Point 7October 19, 2010

By Christopher CarterStaff Writer

Although a downturned economy has halted hiring in large part across different employment sectors in the last three years, Kitsap County residents — including Olympic College students — are still being hired.

People like Margaret Hess at Bremerton’s WorkSource is helping put job resources literally at the fingertips of Olympic College students.

WorkSource opened their Bremerton office in 2000 and established a relationship with the college immediately, Hess said.

“We’ve always had a very strong partnership with OC,” she said.

Many job seekers who turn to WorkSource are also students looking to finish a degree. Nearly 1,400 of WorkSource’s 2,603 job seekers in September had a high school diploma or less, according to data provided by Hess.

Because of the partnership agreement, OC students can access the complete job listings on WorkSource’s website.

Sharing databases and information is cost-effective for both parties, said Teresa McDermott, director for Worker Retraining and Work-Based Learning. She works in the college’s Career Center.

“We’ve had to continue to look at creative ways to serve the community with the limited resources we have,” she said. “That has encouraged collaborations.”

Through WorkSource, job seekers and potential future OC students can get a head start on college classes. Through a computer lab program known as Key Train, the soon-to-be students can work on English and math skills needed to place into college-level courses based on results of the Accuplacer test required upon enrollment at OC.

Elizabeth Scott, regional labor economist for the Employment Security Department, said organizations like WorkSource and offerings like the college’s worker retraining program will help bring back a healthy labor force.

“The idea of matching job seekers with the jobs improves the employment picture because people get returned to work more quickly,” said Scott, adding, “As unemployment goes up, homelessness goes up. One of the ways to alleviate the situation is to work on getting more people back to work.”

For students looking to the Career Center for help, McDermott encourages patience. Like other programs around campus, staffing and limited available resources haven’t met the overwhelming demand for services.

On a Friday, which McDermott describes as a “slow” day, the Career Center saw more than 80 students on a walk-in basis in addition to other students calling by telephone.

Having WorkSource in the college’s own backyard is invaluable but doesn’t solve the problems of limited resources, McDermott said.

“We’re very fortunate, although that

doesn’t minimize the need,” she said.

While unemployment numbers in the Kitsap County area are typically better than those for both the state and nation, this year saw the highest numbers in two decades.

February saw the highest unemployment rate — 8.7 percent — since 1990. The same month had high numbers statewide and was the second-worst month for the country.

The rise in unemployment is due in part to the economic downturn of the last three years.

From 2004 to 2007, before the downturn, the rate in Kitsap varied between 6 and 4 percent.

Scott said despite the high numbers this year, Kitsap workers are in a relatively stable area.

“Kitsap is pretty fortunate,” she said, adding that major employers like Puget Sound Naval Shipyard are a boon to the local labor force.

Other types of jobs are beginning to hire once again.

“If we look at what’s starting to come back, we’re seeing leisure and hospitality definitely showing strength,” said Scott, adding that retail stores are showing positive indicators of a healthy workforce as well.

There is one kind of job that isn’t hiring, however.

“We continue to see construction work not returning,” said Scott. “Usually in the spring we see construction work ramping back up.”

Scott said the reason for seeing less and less hard hats around again relates back to the tight economy and the effects of factors like foreclosures.

“With all available housing at this time, people aren’t doing construction

and remodels,” she said.

While some of the labor industry is still catching up to others, Scott said it’s a good thing there is any catching up to do in the first place.

“There are definitely signs of recovery. We’re

definitely on the way back up,” she said. “All the typical indicators are showing that we are moving ahead. The only issue is that we’re moving ahead very slowly.”

The county, like many areas thought the country, saw a sharp rise and fall in jobs this year be cause of temporary hiring by the U.S. Census Bureau. In Kitsap alone, nearly 400 people took jobs with the bureau, according to Scott.

2

4

6

8

10

12United States

Washington

Kitsap

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

% P

erce

ntag

e

Year

Unemployment rateover last 10 years

Graph by Christopher Carter | Data taken from the state employment seCurity Department

“There are definitely signs of recovery. We’re

definitely on the way back up.”

ElizabEth ScottRegional Labor Economist

Employment Security Department

Students have employment resources at their fingertipsOlympic College and Bremerton’s WorkSource partner to put students and Kitsap residents back to work

Unemployment this year retched the highest in 20 years

8 Focal Point October 19, 2010

Local Service DirectoryKitsap County organizations

Breakfast and lunch served weekdays, from 8 – 8:45 a.m. and from noon – 12:45 p.m.

Food boxes given out Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 – 11:15 a.m. Wednesday from 4 – 5:45 p.m.

Government food commodities are given out the same times as food boxes, but are only given out weekly to recipients who are not receiving food assistance from other sources.

Free bread and produce are given out on all weekdays.

Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets are given out

annually, applications are accepted starting in early October.

Diapers and toiletries are given out during the same hours as food boxes.

Utilities assistance is available from January to April and whenever funding is available annually. (Disconnection notice and proof of low income are required for assistance, which can only be given out once every 12 months per household.)

Free haircuts are given out by appointment.

The SalvaTion army(360) 377-5550

832 6th St. Bremerton, WA 98337

Kitsap Community Resources845 8th Street Bremerton, WA 98337 (360) 478-2301

Housing Assistance:1201 Park Avenue Bremerton, WA 98337 (360) 377-0053Emergency ShelterTransitional HousingSafe Park

Energy Assistance:(360) 479-1507Help for renters and homeowners with heating and utilities.

Employment and Training:(360) 478-2301WorkfirstLife Skills TrainingJob Skills Classes

Veterans’ Assistance:(360) 377-0053Temporary assistance available with rent/mortgage, food, transportation, medical, and burial costs.Kitsap Mental Health

(360) 405-4010Adult Services:(360) 373-7049CounselingPsychosocial RehabilitationCo-Occurring Disorders TreatmentEmployment ServicesHousing ServicesResidential Services

Child and Family Services(360) 479-4994Children’s Crisis TeamCommunity SupportHome-Based Family ServicesCo-Occurring Disorder ServicesMadrona Day TreatmentIntensive Children’s Services

Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas:(360) 479-3033 or Toll-Free 1-800-843-4793

Free Meals in BreMerton:

Bremerton United Methodist Church

1150 Marine DriveLast Friday of the month, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

The Coffee Oasis822 Burwell St. (360) 373-0461Fridays 8 – 11 p.m.

Westgate Fire Hall1550 Rocky Point RoadSundays 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Sylvan Way Baptist Church900 Sylvan WayTuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 p.m.

Corner of Riddell Road and Wheaton Waythird and fourth Saturday of the month 2 – 3 p.m.Sunday 1 – 3 p.m.

Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship4418 Perry Ave.Thursday 12 – 4 p.m. Bremerton Rescue MissionHwy. 303 across from WalmartFriday 6:30 p.m.

Tip: Pillows, blankets and other bedding can protect you from back pain depending on sleeping arrangements. Also, blankets can be used to cover windows and ensure minimal privacy.

Tip: Crackers and canned goods are simple food staples. It’s a good idea to have a box to keep food in so nothing becomes cracked or broken. Water is essential and can be used for cleaning.

Tip: Micro-waves can be plugged in using an AC adapter in the car’s cigarette lighter. They are useful because they don’t have to run very long.

While it’s not ideal, some of Kitsap County’s homeless are forced to sleep in their cars. Here are a few common sense tips for safety and comfort for those calling their car home.