Winter shelter program ends seventh season, sees increase of younger guests

The Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) Program completed its seventh year at the end of March. The program experienced a 16 percent increase in the number of young adults seeking shelter during the coldest winter months.

The WHO Program is a partnership between Council for the Homeless, Share, St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, and many committed individuals. This season, more than 1,890 volunteers from forty-four faith-based and community organizations staffed the two WHO shelters.

From November 1, 2009, through March 31, 2010, 513 people without homes had a warm, safe place to sleep, hot showers, food, and the opportunity to meet with Share case managers. St. Andrew, in Orchards, provided shelter to 389 women, couples, and families. In downtown Vancouver, St. Paul sheltered 127 single males.

Guests ages 18-30 increased 16 percent from last season. Seventy-eight percent of guests this past winter had not stayed in WHO emergency shelters during the previous three seasons.

"With the ending of the WHO program, space becomes limited," said Shanda Hochstetler, Emergency Shelter Clearinghouse coordinator and WHO volunteer. "Those folks sleeping in cars or outside may have quite a struggle getting into the few beds available. The need for transitional, permanent and affordable housing is great and growing. Without these resources for shelter residents, the shelters remain bottlenecked."

Volunteers and other resources are being recruited for the 2010-2011 season. Faith communities, civic groups, business organizations, families and individuals are welcome to volunteer time, talent or finances.

To help, contact Serenity Madrone, AmeriCorps*VISTA and WHO development coordinator, at 360-699-5106 or via email at  who.vista@icfth.com.

Vancouver health care provider named Therapist of the Year

Cheryl Crispin

Southwest Washington Medical Center is pleased to recognize physical therapist Cheryl Crispin as the HomeCare Association of Washington’s Therapist of the Year. Crispin was honored at a special HCAW luncheon in Seattle on April 7. 

"Cheryl is a great communicator and always focused on the best outcome for patients and how to get there," said her manager Mark Lehner, who nominated her. "She consistently delivers the highest quality of care to her patients, while also balancing the challenges of being a parent, wife and citizen."

Crispin is a 13-year employee of HomeCare Southwest and a resident of Vancouver, Washington.

Home health aides assist with personal care and hygiene, such as bathing. Home health aides also can assist the nurse or therapist with treatments and exercises.

For more information, call HomeCare Southwest, 360-759-1500.

Power of music subject of May 27 lecture

Dr. Melissa Brotons

The Friends of The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra proudly present a lecture by Dr. Melissa Brotons, entitled "Music for Health and Education," on the different applications of music therapy, in education, medicine, mental health and gerontology. The lecture is at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 27, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver, 4505 E. 18th Street in Vancouver. 

"Music and medicine have been associated since ancient times.  The use of music for therapeutic purposes has been influenced by the view of disease and medicine in each period in history.   These have shown that music affects the different areas of the person: physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual.  This is why music is so powerful," Brotons said. "Through music, people can communicate and express the deepest feelings, especially when language may be a difficult medium."

Brotons is currently a professor of music therapy and director of the Inter-university Master Program in Music Therapy in Barcelona, Spain.  Melissa is married to Vancouver Symphony’s music director and conductor, Salvador Brotons.

A $10 donation per person is suggested. Proceeds from the event go to funding the symphony's concert season and music education programs in Southwest Washington. 

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