20 Volunteers Brave Cold to Help Tri-Cities Homeless

When most people are still asleep, volunteers are already walking through parks, libraries, and along train tracks searching for neighbors who need help the most.

The annual Point in Time count brings together volunteers from churches, fire departments, hospitals, and community organizations across Benton and Franklin counties in Washington. Their mission isn't just to count people experiencing homelessness but to connect them with resources that could change their lives.

Kyle Sullivan, who directs Benton County Human Services, coordinates teams that spread across different zones where unhoused people gather. The volunteers carry sleeping bags and backpacks filled with toiletries, gloves, warm hats, and something new this year: beanies with built-in headlamps. The addition came after a homeless person was killed by a car while walking at night.

Community health worker Maria Perez greeted two men, Smokey and Pichon, in a Pasco parking lot. Smokey proudly shared he'd been sober for six months and was waiting for a spot in a recovery house. Pichon had come to care for his mother during her cancer battle.

For many unhoused residents, workers like Perez are familiar, trusted faces. She reminded both men where to find her during the week and made sure they took fresh supplies.

The county currently provides hotel vouchers for about 90 people, budgeting extra rooms during winter months. Sullivan told volunteers that even at capacity, they'd find funding for families in crisis. "If you end up with a scenario with a single mom with four kids sleeping in the car, we will find the money," he promised.

The count typically finds 125 to 150 truly unsheltered people across both counties. These numbers help the state understand needs and support funding requests for housing programs.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond counting, this effort creates connections that last long after volunteers return home. Outreach workers build trust with people who might otherwise avoid seeking help, opening doors to recovery programs, medical care, and eventually permanent housing.

The community is also working toward bigger solutions. A new women and children's shelter near Kennewick's Toyota Center is almost fully funded. Sullivan says the area also needs a no-barrier shelter where people struggling with active addiction can find safe refuge.

Times are tough for local nonprofits after federal funding cuts, but the dedication hasn't wavered. "There are a lot of good people really out there trying to make a difference," Sullivan said. "They're not easy problems, but I think they're solvable, and we're headed in the right direction."