LETTER TO THE EDITOR | The housing need will only increase
Published 3:53 pm Friday, November 28, 2008
To the editor:
On behalf of the WISH staff, board members, and over 800 program participants I extend appreciation for the financial support during our fourth annual Share Your Change — Share A Home Fundraiser. Whidbey Coffee has succeeded in joining community together with its dedicated effort and energy in sponsoring Whidbey Island Share a Home with generous incentives and results.
Change is the current theme and at WISH it’s no different. We envision the housing demands for 2009 as increasing dramatically from what we have seen in previous years.
Change is also redefining homelessness here on Whidbey. Rural homelessness differs from urban homelessness in that its invisible. Here you don’t see disheveled men huddled in dark doorways, under bridges or carrying “Work for Food” placards. Nor do you see women garbed in four different coats pushing all their personal belongings in a shopping cart.
In a recent plea for help, Good Cheer advised us of the 40 percent increased requests for assistance. WISH is seeing corresponding increases for help in providing affordable housing.
In our communities island-wide, the homeless are working parents trying to cover draining house costs, life-long residents who have worked hard all their lives but are struggling to remain independent in their own homes, a retired minister, single-parent households, and a recent house fire victim. Did you realize there are more than 800 children impacted by homeless situations on Whidbey? These are the faces of the homeless and we see them everyday.
Today is the time for change. Let us begin working together to make a difference in the quality of life for island residents. Grateful for the generosity we have received from our fundraiser, your continued support throughout the year is not only appreciated but needed now more than ever. Please consider a contribution to WISH to further our work in providing affordable housing. (WISH is a 501(c)(3) organization.)
Doris Newkirk
WISH Executive Director
