Culminating Assignment
Zhian Haji
Location and Contact Information
1201 Park Avenue
Bremerton, WA 98337
(360) 473-2035
History
The Housing Solutions Center (HSC)
opened in February 2012 to provide a
single place for individuals to turn to who
are experiencing a housing crisis
The HSC is a program under Kitsap
Community Resources
Kcr.org
Purpose
The purpose of HSC is to prevent
homelessness by helping individuals and
families secure or retain permanent
housing.
 If permanent housing isn’t available, HSC
connects them to appropriate shelter
resources in Kitsap County.
 HSC also maintains a community wide
shelter waiting list, replacing the need for
individual agencies to create their own
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Services/Programs
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HSC provides intake, light assessment and housing
referral services for anyone who is homeless or
imminently at risk of becoming homeless (i.e. they
are facing the threat of eviction for non-payment of
rent). Through community partnerships with 16
different service providers the Housing Solutions
Center is able to connect the household with the
resource that best suits their needs. In some cases,
it may involve getting someone placed in an
emergency shelter. In others, it may be a referral for
deposit or rent assistance necessary to obtain or
retain permanent housing. (M. Berhard, personal
communication, May 14, 2013)
The center serves individuals on a walk-in basis, or
by appointment
Eligibility
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HSC serves everyone who seeks
assistance. However, not everyone will be qualified
for the resources they desire. For example, if
someone wants rental assistance, they need to meet
certain income guidelines. If they are over-income,
we are unable to refer them for that service. Another
example would be someone wanting to get into a
shelter with a felony background or unable to pass a
drug screen. In those cases HSC wouldn’t
refer. (M. Berhard, personal communication, May
14, 2013)
Each agency has provided the HSC their unique
screening criteria that they use to determine which
services best meet the needs of the clients. (M.
Berhard, personal communication, May 14, 2013)
Design

The HSC operate in four locations
throughout Kitsap County:
 Its main office is at the KCR office in
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Bremerton
KCR services center in Port Orchard
In Poulsbo through a subcontract
relationship with North Kitsap Fishline
Youth and young adults served through a
subcontract with Coffee Oasis
After hours referrals are provided by 211
Housing and Community
Partners
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YWCA
North Kitsap Fishline
Catholic Community
Services
St. Vincent de Paul
Coffee Oasis
Georgia’s House
Kitsap Rescue Mission
Housing Kitsap
Bremerton Housing
Authority
Housing Resources Board
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West Sound Treatment
Center
Kitsap Mental Health
Services
Agape Unlimited
Kitsap Recovery Center
Peninsula Community
Health Services
Kitsap Transit
Harrison Hospital
Kitsap County Health
District
The Salvation Army
Local landowners
Overview of 2012 Results

For the first time, Kitsap County has data showing the
number of households that are actively seeking shelter.
This number does not equal the number of households
that are physically homeless in the community but it
shows the need for shelter in Kitsap County.
Demographics

Last year, the HSC served 2,518 unduplicated
households (meaning they may have come for
assistance more than once, but we only count
them once.) The heads of household
demographics were as follows:
Single Women – 21%,
Women with Children – 22%,
Single Men – 22%,
Man with children – 3%,
Couple – 14%,
Family (two or more adults + minor children) –
18%.
(M. Berhard, personal communication, May 14, 2013)
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Demographics
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Of those served, 33% of the households served were
“Literally Homeless” when they arrived, meaning they
were residing in a place not meant for human
habitation. 23% were imminently losing their housing
(received an eviction notice or request to leave within the
next 14 days), 30% were Unstably Housed/At-Risk. The
others were either stably housed or unknown.
The average income of households served was $722 –
which is difficult if the goal for the household is permanent
housing. 27% of the households have $0 income –
meaning their best option would likely be shelter. Of the
households served, 9% are veteran led, 29% are
disabled, 19% struggle with mental illness, 8% have
substance abuse issues.
(M. Berhard, personal communication, May 14, 2013)
Overview of 2012 Results
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HSC served 2,518 non-duplicated households in 2012,
with a total of 5,183 individuals.
HSC provided 3,514 referrals to housing and other
community services.
Of the households served:
 58% of the households report less than $700 in monthly
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income. 27% have no income at all, posing the highest barrier
to permanent housing.
222 households were headed by Veterans. Of those
households, 31% were literally homeless (living on the streets or
in a place not meant for human habitation).
Half of the households cite economic reasons as the primary
reason for their homelessness, followed by a family crisis 17%,
displacement 10%, and health problems 9%.
19% reported they suffered from mental illness
8% indicated they had a substance abuse issue
Data Gathering and Community
Needs
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The greatest need is in the area of
funding for Eviction Prevention, followed
by emergency shelter and access to
subsidized housing
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What do you like most about your position and
the center?
 Since this is a new program, I enjoy the challenge of
designing the implementation, figuring out the
procedures we will use, testing, evaluating and trying
to measure if what we are doing makes a
difference. I don’t meet one-on-one with the clients
– that would be the role of our HSC Navigators. I do
get involved in certain client situations and it is
always moving to witness the struggle that some
families face and their determination to transcend
their circumstances.
-Monica Berhard
Manager of HSC
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What do you like least about the center or what is
one thing you wish you could change?
 Since the center is new and I was so involved in the
implementation, I am very happy with how the program is
run. If I could change anything – it would be increasing
the level of resources available in the community for rental
assistance or shelter for those who typically are not
admitted to the primary shelters due to their histories. Its
always difficult to work through a family situation when
there are young children involved. And – perhaps the
hardest situations are those where the client has some
significant degree of mental illness. There is housing for
people who are mentally ill, but not enough to meet the
demand.
-Monica Berhard
Manager of HSC

What does a typical day look like at the
center?
 The center serves individuals on a walk-in basis,
or by appointment. Generally all households
have the opportunity to meet with an HSC
representative the same day of their
request. There is no typical day. Word gets out
quickly if rental assistance funds are available,
and during those times the lobby waiting area
can be full all day. During the colder months
there is greater need for shelter than the warmer
months.
-Monica Bernhard
Manager at HSC