Dispelling rumors
Are homeless being bused to Goldendale?
By Lou Marzeles, Editor of The Goldendale Sentinel
Photo accompanying The Goldendale Sentinel article, no credit given
October 18, 2023 - Have you heard the rumor that Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is busing homeless people to Goldendale?
WAGAP hadn’t. The rumor is fiercely prevalent—staff at The Sentinel have heard reports of WAGAP packing up the homeless and shipping them up to the greener pastures of Goldendale from several ordinarily credible business and municipal sources. Most often the reports say WAGAP is rounding up homeless in The Dalles and putting them on their buses.
And it’s not true.
WAGAP Executive Director Leslie Naramore puts it plainly: “WAGAP does not bus in or relocate homeless people to Goldendale or any other area of Klickitat or Skamania counties in Washington. WAGAP does not have any buses. We also do not have any bus drivers. We do not have any presence in The Dalles.”
She makes the point about bus drivers because one person in Goldendale claims to have talked with a WAGAP bus driver who said the organization was doing the busing.
Naramore says WAGAP supports people who connect directly with its local outreach workers or through its regional offices in Goldendale, Bingen, and Stevenson to help those in need find services. “Like housing and food necessary to survive their living conditions,” she states.
“We do have tents as a last resort if we don’t have shelter space available. No one wants to be homeless or to live in a tent. In the last year, in the Goldendale area, we’ve given out less than 10 tents. If people resort to tent camping, it’s because no housing or shelter is available.”
Naramore says rumors of this nature are widespread about similar organizations. “I am currently in a statewide association meeting with service providers from each of Washington’s 39 counties,” she said last week, “and I asked the directors if they’ve ever had this question asked of them, of busing in homeless people, and each person responded in the affirmative. It is interesting that this claim is not a unique phenomenon.”
Nararmore adds the public is welcome to connect with WAGAP if they have any questions on homeless issues or if they want to learn more about what the agency does to support those who face poverty in Klickitat and Skamania Counties. “They can visit our website at www.wagap.org to learn about all we do or email info@wagap.org with specific questions,” she says.
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