The Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH) is thrilled that our candidate, Coleen (Tinker Bell) Carette won the unofficial mayor race with over $20,000 in votes. She worked so hard to raise that money, and we are blown away with her success.

More important even than the money is her help in raising awareness of the needs in our community and the fact that we all must pitch in to help our struggling families, isolated elders and estranged individuals.

The cost of rentals on the island has almost doubled in just a few years. Real estate values have skyrocketed as well, leaving many working families totally unable to ever buy a home of their own, much less pay higher and higher rent. We are seeing an increase in homelessness here on Vashon as well as throughout Puget Sound.

Many working people cannot keep up with the rising cost of living and are slowly spiraling downward.

Our local IFCH works diligently to try to keep folks in their homes and assist those who are homeless in finding someplace where they can be safe and out of the weather.

Our funds help to pay for medical care, utilities, transportation, rent, food and a thousand small things that keep people going. Our meal program feeds not only those who are hungry but also folks lonely for companionship and social contact.

We are a very small, all volunteer nonprofit and get by with a very tiny budget of donations from generous islanders. The money raised by “Tinkerbell” will go a long way to helping our fellow islanders, and we are proud and grateful.

— Emma Amiad

President, IFCH