How KHOC Benefits our Community

There are many individuals, especially the elderly that live on a fixed income.  Due to rents continuing to increase many are being displaced from their housing.  Kitsap Homes of Compassion program is using existing housing in our community to make rent affordable by renting rooms. This program is helping house individuals that were either homeless or at risk of losing their housing.
Bridget Glasspoole KCR Housing Solutions Center Manager
Their team is some of the most amazing compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure to work with in the nine years I have worked in social services.
Kristina Didricksen KCR WIOA Program Coordinator
“I was homeless with no place to stay. I had been in a women’s shelter and then living in a tent before KCR referred me to Kitsap Homes of Compassion’s Affordable Home Program for women. I have been living in the KHOC home for a month now, and it is wonderful to be in a warm house. I am very grateful for this home that I can share with four other women.”
Ms. LKHOC Resident
We (all of my housemates and I) are very happy living here. After the long hard road we all have traveled–this house is truly a home. The spacious rooms, the constant care and kindness from you (KHOC staff)…we want you to know how much it means to us. Be assured that this wonderful house has meant the difference between life and death. It has revived my faith in God and assured me that though iniquity abounds, the love of some has not grown cold.
Mr. SKHOC Resident
This Home of Compassion provided hope to me because it prevented me from becoming homeless when I had to suddenly move out of my previous subsidized apartment. This housing provided my life with peace and harmony, as without a secure home there was no peace.
Ms. IKHOC Resident

2018 Innovative Program Award

Awarded to “Kitsap Homes of Compassion” on Dec. 19, 2018 on behalf of the Kitsap Housing and Homelessness Coalition. We received the award for our innovative solution towards ending homelessness in Kitsap County and the creation of the KHOC organization. (Presented by Continuum Committee Chair – Monica Bernhard, Kitsap Mental Health Services and Kirsten Jewell, Kitsap County Housing and Homelessness Program Coordinator)

Statistics

90%

90% of KHOC residents were previously living in their vehicle or in a tent, from months to years, before moving into a KHOC home, or were previously living in a temporary homeless shelter.

85%

of KHOC program participants
are legally disabled, whether
physically, mentally, or both.

The following statistics are housing outcomes of the first 82 individuals
accepted into our program since September 2018; as of December 31, 2019.

68%
13%
14%
5%

68% were still living in a KHOC house.

13% moved on to better long-term housing.1


14% were terminated from the program due to repeated rule violations.2

5% voluntarily chose to go back to homelessness.3

Thus, 4 out of 5 participants were successfully housed with KHOC’s program!

Note: These statistics represent KHOC participants only. KHOC’s focus is on the chronically homeless, and is not a representative sample set of everyone in Kitsap County who is experiencing homelessness.

Studies have shown that people who are homeless for a short-term (less than a year) often do not have any mental, health, or chemical dependency issues, whereas chronically homeless individuals are much more likely to have one or a combination of these issues.

Nationwide studies have estimated that around 25% of our homeless can be categorized as chronically homeless, and 75% are those who experience one instance of homelessness, for a short term.

HUD’s definition of chronic homelessness is being homeless for over 1 year or having 3 episodes of homelessness in a 3 year period.

1 Moved in with friends/relatives/nursing homes/own apartment/ etc. and used KHOC as safe, transitional housing.
2 Their mental and emotional health was affecting their ability to comply with the terms of KHOC’s agreement; they may benefit from housing with a higher level of care than KHOC can provide.
3 Likely due to the severity of a mental condition.