Weekly Encampment Update (Pierce County): July 28-29

Volunteers and caseworkers continue to circulate encampments and unsheltered individuals throughout Pierce County distributing water and various items as needed this week as the weather heated up.  Highlights include: Partnered with the Tacoma Rescue Mission this week. Several individuals were in need of medical care and consultation which included lice infestation, wounds, heat exhaustion, failure to thrive and coordinating efforts to get various individuals to medical clinics for evaluation and housing for those who were open to this option.Lice treatment kits were provided to two males with instructions on use. They may end up transporting to the ER as their investation may be full body.A lone female recently discharged from a healthcare setting was found nearby. She had been treated for a head laceration. Resources were provided as she declined services at the time of contact. She was alert and slightly confused, but able to make her own choices; she was encouraged to come to the TRM women's shelter.AMR ambulance successfully transported an elderly, frail female to Sea Mar Community Clinic after weeks of encouragement from street outreach workers. Her WC-bound husband declined services and left the encampment during a brief altercation with this same woman.Three males were roused from sleep when found to be at risk for potential heat stroke--all were grateful for the water, ice and cool rags provided to them as they had fallen asleep either in a car or on the hot pavement in a parking lot. Wound care provided for lower extremity cellulitis to one of them.Coordination efforts health & safety for a young male suffering from a brain injury. He was found wearing a helmet and a very heavy coat. He was showing signs of overheating and talking in a rapid stream of consciousness, but was able to take in hydration when offered. Paramedics were called for further assessment.A lone female in her mid 30's or 40's required assistance as she cared for 4 newly born kittens and 2 adult cats in her very hot, broken down car. Water, cool rags, battery-powered fans, snacks, cat food and gas were provided to her by volunteers outside of TRM. She was alert & oriented and had enough gas to move to a cooler location if she chose to do so. Declined safe parking, cooling center, or shelter as she was waiting for the return of her significant other.Several encamped residents in another camp were recently given notice to vacate the private wooded area where they were staying. One young woman required wound care for several infected, scabbed over wounds on her hands and legs. She was encouraged to go to a clinic, but had limited knowledge of resources to go to a clinic. Encourage her to come to the Tacoma Rescue Mission women's shelter. She had minimal clothes. Clothes were provided to her.Coordination efforts continued as the 60 year old WC bound male on dialysis remains unhoused in the Parkland/Spanaway area. His dialysis clinic was contacted and will be helping him with paperwork so he can hopefully get into housing soon. Comprehensive Life Resources has been a huge help with these efforts.Sadly, there were continued incidents of violence and losses this week. Shots were heard while at one of the encampments visited this week and police were notified. An encampment resident reported there were "7 violent deaths of friends he knew" in this same encampment this year alone. A driver in a different encampment was shot by the passenger in the same car. [The 34 year old, WC bound, incontinent female who we have been checking on could not be visited due to the perceived safety risks in the encampment where the driver was shot--it is unknown how she is at this time] It was reported that another encampment experienced the injury of a female trapped under a van and was hospitalized during an altercation that occured between two malesThe death of an ailing 40+ year old unhoused woman at the back of a church occurred a couple weeks ago after she reportedly lost housing 3 weeks prior to her death. Church workers had been caring for her as best they could prior to her experiencing a fall that led to her death.Kitsap County also had a homeless male who was in a wheelchair and was wearing a cervical collar, "wanting to die." Per HEART director: "He said that he 'broke his neck two months prior in a car accident.' He had left the hospital AMA and despite the pain wasn’t trying to go back to the hospital. His arm looked infected" and even when the HEART team got him to the hospital, he refused to enter and went to a cooling center instead.Many things to pray for when you review the happenings of this week. And this was only 1 day of many for our hard working street outreach workers and healthcare providers. Please pray for solutions, protection, and compassion as we reach out to others who are on our streets, vulnerable and at risk. Many are doing the work that needs to be done and everyone who is helping is making a difference. Processes continue to be refined and evaluated for improvement through this summer's data collection. Some resources that may be beneficial to review are included here;Washington State Legislature on Respite Care: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=74.41&full=trueTrauma Informed Care: https://nhchc.org/online-courses/trauma-informed-care-webinar-series/The importance of data collections:  https://nimrc-nhchc.talentlms.com/Stay safe out there and keep up the good work & especially the prayers!

Weekly Encampment Update (Pierce County): July 18, 2022

Updates on the "Bridges of Peace" Medical Respite Program: 3 residents respiting with 2 more anticipated admits this week: One female resident required a trip to the ER for lymphedema and cellulitis of an upper arm wound that required care. Transport was provided by a MRC nurse. Another female resident was diagnosed with kidney failure after receiving chemotherapy for a diagnosis of cancer The third resident was a male diagnosed with HIV To date, there have been few, if any, healthcare system referrals to this program. The majority of referrals are coming directly from street caseworkers and treatment centers, making financial stability of this program a challenge. Keep in mind if "Bridges of Peace" was not in existence, these patients would be recuperating on the street. Any financial support would be greatly appreciated considering the need for medical respite in our homeless communities. We learned also of another male homeless resident who frequented an area ER who died of an overdose on Fentanyl soon after being discharged from the healthcare center. Three Pierce County encampments were visited this week. We're still seeing lots of untreated wounds, cellulitis, substance use disorders (SUD), and mental illnesses among most residents of encampments. Drug use and weapons are openly displayed. Central and downtown Tacoma appear to have the most active sites and caution is warranted when visiting these encampments. These encampment residents were seen this week & will require follow up: A debilitated, incontinent, wheelchair-bound 34 year old woman was assessed by Tacoma Fire Department a couple times this week and will remain on the radar weekly--she continues to decline medical services when offered, but hygiene items were left with her and she has an elderly couple close by, watching over her. They were instructed on s/s to report and when to call 911 should this young woman's condition deteriorate. A frightened 75 year old woman in the same encampment has been referred to a local women's & children's shelter. There were no other specific medical needs identified. We are on the lookout for a 15 year old homeless young woman who is addicted to heroin who continues to be dropped off at the 173rd & A street encampment in the Spanaway/Parkland area. There is some good news to report as efforts to reach unsheltered individuals have made some progress: The 85 year old with heart disease living in a broken down van in the Pacific & 34th encampment was moved to a Veteran's encampment where resources could be delivered to him more effectively; it sounds like he is connected with case workers. Thank you to all who were involved in this situation. The two young women we have been following from last week were relocated to Portland where caseworkers from Ideal Options connected them with resources, thanks to Rebekah from I.O. Jay, from Lived Experiences Coalition (LEC), identified a 60 year old gentleman who had some stitches that were in need of removal and these were removed today, preventing a potentially worse medical outcome later. A 61 year old wheelchair-bound gentleman who was missing a leg and living without a vehicle or tent was indentified in Spanaway/Parkland and interviewed by a MRC nurse. He will be followed until he gets services. Shiloh Baptist has a male shelter which is closed for two weeks due to COVID, but will be contacted to help shelter this gentleman. He is not open to Tacoma Rescue Mission or Nativity House at this time. More to follow as updates happen! Thanks to all who are involved with continuing to remember our unsheltered neighbors throughout Pierce County!

Medical Resources in Pierce County: 2022

• Refer to the following resources as needed to help unsheltered residents throughout Pierce County:

• Urgent Care: SeaMar 1307 S 11th St., Tacoma, WA 98405; 253.682.2180; also provides laundry service Community Health Care 1202 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, WA 98405; (253) 441-4742 Eastside CHC 1708 East 44th St, Tacoma, WA 98404; (253) 471-4553 
• Free Clinics: Neighborhood Clinic 1323 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405; Monday & Thursday 5pm – 8 pm Trinity Free Clinic 1615 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405; Tuesday 5pm – 7 pm 
• Transportation: CLR PATH welfare check - 253-396-5065 TRM S&R (Davina) 253-383-1513 MOCT (mobile outreach crisis team) 253-798-4500 HEAL (Laurel) 253-231-0873 TFD Cares (Marisa) 253-534-8734 Van will stop/pick-up at six shelters every 60-75 minutes: Stability Site, Rescue Mission (Adams and S Tacoma), Nativity House, Beacon Youth, Salvation Army Monday thru Friday: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Weekly Encampment Report (Pierce County) July 7, 2022

This week has been eventful as usual. Prayers continue to be needed as we navigate the challenges of staying safe and continuing to assess the medical needs of our unsheltered neighbors which is extremely important as the encampments are increasing in numbers and health acuity is rising. Our encampment team has been joined by a peer counselor from Ideal Options. Encampment resident census has been fluctuating and increases in number of residents have been seen in a variety of sites: safety has begun to be more of a concern in the Pierce County sites and this has been noted from multiple sources: Encampment visits have revealed increased in violence, presence of weapons; Community Health Clinic's mobile medical unit has not been rounding on encampments due to safety concerns and Tacoma Fire Department sources agree that growing safety concerns make continuing to visit encampments a risk. This perception of risk was addressed by the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness this week when concerns were brought to the Medical Reserve Nurses. Here's an overview of some of what was seen this week: Women were more prominent in one of the encampments that have been visited and there have been rumors of human trafficking within at least one of the encampments. Human trafficking is a reality and a concern as we have reports of pregnancies within the encampments and rising syphilis cases in Pierce County (per the Tacoma Health Department). A second woman reported moving 12 times in the past year and had been treated for cellulites in a hospital setting; she still showed signs of infection needing additional medical care. She was no longer in the encampment the following day. Status unknown at this time. An older gentleman who has been in a broken down van was slightly weaker this week. He reported a "resolved" cough" but his right foot was swollen and bruised after stubbing his toe this week. Nails were long and needed care. Learned that Tacoma Fire Department has a BLS medical transport van (known as the T49 service). This may be a resource that can be tapped into; 9-1-1 may need to be called first, but may be able to partner with TFD on this. Here's a resource that may be helpful for transport: TFD Cares and the phone # 253-534-8734. Noted different persons coming in and out of the camp; less approachable than previous visits and many who admitted to not being homeless, but were "just visiting." For those rounding on the encampments this next week, additional important information on new viral infection, Monkeypox (MPX) from the Tacoma Pierce County Public Health Department incudes the following: Re: Monkeypox (MPX). "MPX is a rare viral infection spread through skin to skin or droplet contact/ the current threat of transmission remains low in the US. Anyone with a new rash should see a medical provider (Sea Mar and CHC are good resources for unsheltered encampment residents: downtown, Sea Mar on 11th street and CHC at 11th/MLK). Report suspected cases to TPCHD at 253-649-1412." *Will post additional medical resources in a separate post* Nothing to report in Kitsap County this week. Will keep you posted. Thanks again to all who are actively working on solutions and praying for solutions.

June 30, 2022 Weekly Encampment Report (Pierce & Kitsap Counties)

Much happened this week, so a bit longer than usual.....Read on: Pierce County/Tacoma Over 100 unsheltered residents living in various encampments were visited by volunteer case workers and/or Medical Reserve Corps Nurses this week. More vehicles and tents appeared throughout Pierce County nearest two active Tacoma shelters, Tacoma Rescue Mission & Nativity House. Awaiting additional data from these areas. >Note: there are many more encampments scattered throughout the city and county, many of them underserved. This past week felt a bit more intense as Tacoma experienced two incidents of random, fatal shootings this week; one reported shooting death occurred within a homeless encampment in Tacoma. Some encampments openly display weapons, such as knives or guns. We have been warned by unsheltered residents to also not visit certain encampments due to safety issues. This is concerning due to the continued vulnerability of many living on the street. Additional incidents of violence include one young woman reporting an untreated "skull fracture" and another in a different encampment reporting "a broken wrist" after being "hit by a bat." Two women were reportedly pregnant and there are many more women than initially realized as many quietly remain in their tents, often "fearful" and vulnerable to such attacks as the ones reported this week. Most women will not talk to men and one woman openly accused a male caseworker of alleged, untrue violations. Trust is difficult to establish in these situations and having female nurses accompany the male caseworker has been appreciated by many women within the encampments. Mental illness and PTSD are frequent issues among those living on the street which occasionally cause persons to venture out on their own, away from group encampments, leaving them vulnerable in other ways. It was reported by an encampment resident that one young woman, recently discharged from a mental health facility "against her wishes, [was] forced out of " her chosen encampment by the encampment residents for unruly behavior and disturbance. As she was crossing a nearby street to leave, she was struck by two vehicles and killed instantly right outside the encampment. Among the usual cuts, scapes, wounds, substance use, aches and pains of being homeless, care provided to unsheltered residents included the following: Project Homeless Connect-June 24 (https://associatedministries.org/supportive-services/phcvolunteer/) Two unsheltered residents were recently discharged from the hospital to the street, one was ambulatory and one presented as significantly weak as he crawled into his tent*. 85 year old Veteran with CHF* remains in his broken-down vehicle, has lost significant amount of weight, converses, has some cognitive challenges; grandson took the second van that was able to be driven-unknown when he would return; there was outreach follow-up, but he has no phone so there was no way to follow up on the Veteran's resources he was told about; a caseworker from TPCHD to follow up with him, providing a community phone. *Interesting to note: Many unsheltered residents have medical insurance through DSHS, but medical follow up can be challenging due to the transient nature of living homeless, having a lack of knowledge of where to get help and knowing what symptoms require medical follow up, an inability to find reliable transportation, a fear of their tent/vehicle "homes" being claimed by others or removed by city or county workers. Missing appointments due to these reasons frequently labels these patients as "noncompliant" by our health systems staff who are also frequently understaffed and overworked, making follow up with these residents equally challenging. Resources Provided: A community outreach non-denominational Christain group, "Healing Hands of Hope," provided hot meals. Water and medical supplies were dispersed as weather heated up this week. Education was provided by Tacoma Pierce County Public Health Department on the syphilis outbreak that is occuring throughout Pierce County. Condoms distributed. 3 Narcan doses distributed. Ice pack and wrap provided to woman with hurt wrist. Incontinent pads and briefs provided to a man reportedly incontinent (was not present, left items in his tent. Kitsap County: UPDATE Last week's Kitsap County gentleman, "Mike," who was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, died two days later surrounded by family, according to Kitsap County HEART director. This was a victory in that he was found, agreed to transport to a medical facility, and died within a facility in the company of family. Sadly, many of our encampment residents are not as fortunate and die before they can get help. Hence, the purpose for supporting continued medical respite efforts for this population. New Hope Resource (see https://www.tnhrc.org/about) & Bridges for Peace, are two new resources designed to care for unsheltered residents to prevent illness and/or provide an opportunity for medical respite should unsheltered residents become ill or are discharged from a healthcare center in the Pierce County area (https://opengovus.com/washington-corporation/604410871). Continued support through prayers and other means are always welcome.