Vandalism, park safety issues tip of the iceberg: Goldendale meeting opens Pandora’s box

“This issue on homelessness and drugs, and mental illness — these are actually nationwide issues,” Mayor Mike Canon said. “This is not something particularly for Goldendale or Klickitat County. It’s everywhere, and it’s going to take quite a strong consolidated effort.” 

“One of our important responsibilities for the city is maintaining our public spaces and making sure they are safe and accessible to everyone, especially our children,” said Mayor-elect Dave Jones. He shared photos that law enforcement officers had taken at parks showing needles, drugs, and garbage in areas where children play. 

“It has to stop, and it’s our responsibility to see that it does,” Jones said. “We are looking for solutions here, and we need help, and I’ll beg for it if I need to.”

The range of comments included:

• Houselessness affects many groups of people, not only those with substance use and mental health disorders, but people of all ages, including youth, families, and seniors,
• Rising costs of housing and the lack of available housing units have a tremendous negative effect,
• All agencies are under pressure to provide services in their areas of expertise, 
• Different agencies’ roles are not clearly understood by the public or even by other agencies,
• No one agency or group can fix the issue; it must be a collaborative effort,
• Agencies must clearly communicate and have a go-to list of resources available,
• Laws must be reviewed and potentially changed to support community action,
• Funding is always an issue for providing services, and the generous funding that was available during COVID-19 has now ceased,
• Community members need to play a direct role in helping people and maintaining shared spaces and
• It all starts at home and in school. 

Law enforcement officials at the meeting included Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer, Undersheriff Carmen Knopes, Goldendale Police Chief Mike Smith, and Bingen-White Salmon Police Chief Mike Hepner. 

A major concern expressed by one community member was what they should do if they encounter someone experiencing what they believed to be a mental health disorder. 

“It is not illegal to be mentally ill,” Hepner said and explained the person would have to be a threat to themselves or others before law enforcement would take action. He added that the county has developed a process to assist in the case of a behavioral health emergency, which varies by city.

Other law enforcement issues include the low number of officers and difficulty recruiting; changes to Washington State drug laws making drug possession a misdemeanor when the Blake Fix came into effect July 1; and limitations to trespass laws, i.e., officers cannot remove people from public spaces if no housing is available.

It was also noted that transporting people having mental health emergencies is highly regulated and drains local resources, as approved facilities are outside the county; this pulls officers and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel out of service.

A question was raised about what is and is not prosecuted. “The prosecutor has the final say so whether they will be prosecuted,” Songer said. Other options in drug use cases could include no action and diversion programs. 

“I hate that substance use disorder and homelessness are being linked,” said Sunday Sutton, coordinator for the Coalition for Preventing Abuse in Klickitat County (CPAKC). “There is a correlation. But one does not necessarily cause the other or vice versa. It is an ongoing issue.”

“We don’t have housing in Goldendale,” Sutton continued. “I definitely want our children safe, and we don’t want them to be put in harmful situations. But it’s more than one issue. It’s not just about what they're seeing in the parks. It’s about what’s going on in the home; it’s about what’s going on in our communities; it’s about the messages they’re receiving from our society.”

Many major resources were shared during the meeting. Commissioner Dan Christopher said that, in the absence of an outside service provider, Klickitat County has started a Mental Health department that now has around 20 employees.

Leslie Naramore, WAGAP executive director, said its five locations in Goldendale include the food bank, housing, energy assistance, domestic violence and sexual assault intervention and prevention, and a drop-in youth/family resource center. It also supports CPAKC in its youth substance use prevention work. 

Jennifer Pauletto, WAGAP associate director, said data and explained how housing teams helped prevent 260 evictions last year by assisting with rent payments or mediating between landlords and tenants. “We know that housing availability is really slim in this area and that once someone loses a house, it takes a lot longer for someone to become stable again,” Pauletto said. “So if we can prevent that, we want to, and that’s what our focus is.”

Abby Whalin, WAGAP director of Pathways, connects Community Health Workers directly with people in need, helps them get to services and navigate life’s challenges. She stressed the importance of local volunteers who support youth and said, “When we have a meeting like this, it reminds our young people that we have a responsibility to each other, and we have a commitment to make sure we are uplifting and not further downtrodden on others.” 

As one piece of a solution for wanting to clean up the parks, she offered a thought that the city might look into harm reduction practices like needle exchanges and safe disposal sites. “What if there were places they could do that?”

Recovery Café, headed by Ari Bodeau, Klickitat RNP supervisor, said they are able to support community members struggling with substance use disorders. “We can get them to treatment,” she said. “We can transport them to treatment. We can find them housing if they want to relocate.” Another goal for her team is to connect with other front-line workers within law enforcement, the jail, and the hospital, making this meeting timely.­

Darrell Watson and the staff of Father’s House Fellowship said the ministry supports the indigenous homeless population, which he estimates to be around three dozen in Goldendale. He is setting up this winter’s overnight warming shelter in Goldendale but needs trained and vetted staff. “So if you are willing to do that, we’d love to talk to you,” he said. They are also working on refurbishing three rooms to help anyone in emergency situations.

Commissioner Lori Zoller, Sharon Carter of Klickitat County Senior Services, and Melissa Howtopat, program director for Yakama Nation Area Agency on Aging, emphasized the importance of keeping seniors in their homes so they don’t fall into homelessness. Carter noted those who lose a spouse are affected tremendously by the loss of income, which can make their homes unaffordable to them. She also advocated for disabled clients. 

Other groups attended in support of the conversation, like K-Link, Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, and Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative.  

Councilor Miland Waling promised to continue working on connecting with the area’s congressional delegation on housing issues. Councilor Steve Johnston said he appreciated everyone’s testimony but indicated he didn’t hear a solution for the immediate problem in the town’s recreation areas and said the council would reach out to partners for further action.

Many comments throughout the night focused on residents coming together to help one another. “We need the community to step up,” said Chief Smith. “If you love your community, get involved.” 

Commissioner Christopher agreed, “When you see graffiti, cover it up. It takes us all,” He suggested the city reach out to the probation office and see if they can also get litter crews out for a few hours. 

Songer offered to have posse members help patrol the problematic areas. 

Commissioner Jacob Anderson asked for a comprehensive list of organizations that everyone could draw on, and he was immediately provided with the Columbia Gorge Resource Network available online at C-gorge-resourceguide.com and in print through prevention offices, WAGAP, and Recovery Café. 

“The solutions are already here,” Anderson said. “They are in the room.”

“You’re the experts,” said Canon. “You have seen the conditions and situations of the victims of drug addiction and its impact on mental illness. You know the terrible conditions they face. I am challenging each of you to try to place yourself in their shoes and realize the pain, suffering, and fear they must endure each day: addicted, unemployable, and homeless. Thank you all for your very helpful input tonight."

After the meeting, Chief Smith added, “I feel we have accomplished the beginnings of a more open communication between the public, resource agencies and law enforcement by helping educate each other on the role of their agency and what resources are out there.” 

The official next steps are to be determined, but the general consensus in the room was that people should get involved with whichever group best suits them to help make a difference in the community.