Lael Duncan

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  www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n090301a.shtml - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/1/2009    Last Visited: 3/2/2009  

  "We knew that the numbers would be up, based on the waiting lists for shelter and housing that we have seen," said Lael Duncan, executive director of Okanogan County Community Action Council. "The final number is still a shock. "I do this work every year because it helps to re-light my fire for what needs to be done," she said. "It's not just about numbers; each of these forms tells a story." Lack of funding and shortage of affordable housing have added to the difficulties of battling homelessness, Duncan said. The tough economy has worsened the availability of those resources. But when agencies like Community Action join with others in the area, many people are able to create a better situation, she said. Duncan said one fairly typical story was of a woman and her two children. Because of domestic violence, the three moved into a 25-foot camp trailer with no potable water or telephone. A few months later, they were evicted. The woman was attending school at Wenatchee Valley College at Omak and had expected to drop out. Instead, Community Action and the Housing Authority of Okanogan County were able to help her find a rental and pay for it, and helped pay for electricity and classes. According to Duncan, the woman has graduated and is pursuing a bachelor's degree while in a stable living environment. Duncan said it is compassion that will help people get back on their feet. "It's one thing to stumble and fall down and another to be ignored when you're on the ground," Duncan said. Efforts are under way to develop two different housing solutions for the homeless, Duncan said. Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare is raising funds for a transitional housing complex to serve drug-dependent and/or mentally ill clients. The Housing Authority of Okanogan County is applying for funding for a 16-unit complex of permanent supportive housing. Individuals interested in serving on the strategic planning task force to end homeless may contact Duncan at 422-4041 or laeld@occac.com.

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  www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080111/NE - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/11/2008    Last Visited: 1/13/2008  

  Lael Duncan, director of Okanogan County Community Action Council, said she sees all kinds of evidence that people are going without basic food, warmth and shelter, and that the problem has only gotten worse in the past two years.
  
  "We still have a lot of people who are in denial," she said of the rising poverty rates.But with 4,000 people visiting a food bank every month - some of them coming in every week - there's no question in her mind that people in Okanogan County are going hungry."That's 10 percent of our population," she said.She said she heard one person who was waiting in line for food the Monday after Thanksgiving mention that they hadn't eaten in four days.
  
  Duncan puts the blame squarely on the Bush Administration."At the federal level, the president's priorities do not involve social services.There's a lot of talking about providing people a hand up, and the successes of programs, but the reality is we continue to put a Band-Aid on our social service programs," she said.
  
  Duncan added that the problem has repercussions in the community."People who are malnourished have more health problems," she said, and many end up in emergency rooms, where the public ends up paying the cost.

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  www.methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=392 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/21/2008    Last Visited: 11/21/2008  

  Many of the county's homeless are employed but working at seasonal or minimum-wage jobs, said Lael Duncan, executive director of Okanogan County Community Action Council, which helps people primarily with transitional housing. Others have lost an income because of the death of a spouse or a divorce. Housing assistance in the county is provided in several different ways.

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  www.okanoganpud.org/Minutes/2004%20Minutes/2-10-04.htm - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/10/2004    Last Visited: 4/27/2007  

  Lael Duncan & Becky Hightower, OCCAC
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  Added to today's agenda: 1) a presentation by Lael Duncan, Executive Director of Okanogan County Community Action Council, on partnership collaboration regarding the Washington Consumer Energy Fund Grant Application; and 2) a District discussion regarding Irrigation Rate Schedule/Meter Reading.

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  www.okpuddiesels.org/Minutes/2004%20Minutes/2-10-04.htm - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 2/10/2004    Last Visited: 2/12/2006  

  Lael Duncan & Becky Hightower, OCCAC
  ...
  Added to today's agenda: 1) a presentation by Lael Duncan, Executive Director of Okanogan County Community Action Council, on partnership collaboration regarding the Washington Consumer Energy Fund Grant Application; and 2) a District discussion regarding Irrigation Rate Schedule/Meter Reading.
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  Executive Director Lael Duncan and Housing Manager Becky Hightower of Okanogan County Community Action Council requested the District's partnership collaboration with a $10 million Washington State Community Action Program grant application to the Washington Consumer Energy Fund administered by the Seattle Foundation.

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  www.virtualcap.com/blog/post.cfm/caas-in-the-news-apr-1 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/18/2009    Last Visited: 7/8/2009  

  ...to donate a portion of their proceeds to an emergency homeless fund, said Lael Duncan, executive director of Okanogan County Community Action Council...

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  methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=691 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/16/2009    Last Visited: 1/16/2009  

  Health care professionals will also be providing checks for blood pressure and diabetes and referrals for reproductive health and family planning, said Lael Duncan, executive director of Okanogan County Community Action, one of the organizers of the event. A hospital representative will help people navigate the medical maze and understand available benefits. Representatives from social service agencies will be on hand so people can sign up for benefits, including rental and heating assistance. The Department of Licensing will help people get official identification cards. While some clothing will be available for people to take home, Duncan said they plan to create a registry to match people with the clothes they need in the sizes they need. Many people are in precarious financial situations right now and in danger of losing their homes, said Duncan, who noted an increased demand at food banks and the difficult combination of low vacancy rates and high rents throughout the county. Last year, the county tallied 326 homeless people during the weeklong census. This year, 100 families have been on the waiting list for housing since September, said Duncan. The day also provides an opportunity for the general public to volunteer and see the face of homelessness in Okanogan County, said Duncan. The event is sponsored by Okanogan Community Action, Okanogan County, Family Health Centers, Homelessness Task Force, Housing Coalition, Housing Authority of Okanogan County, Okanogan County Transportation, Manfisher Ministries and Omak Presbyterian Church. For more information or to donate goods or services or volunteer, call Community Action at (509) 422-4041 or (877) 641-0101 or e-mail Duncan at LaelD@occac.com.

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  www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n080729b.shtml - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/29/2008    Last Visited: 7/29/2008  

  "An important component of community development is engaging our local contractors and vendors in the work we do," said Lael Duncan, executive director.

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  www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n080324a.shtml - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/24/2008    Last Visited: 3/25/2008  

  "Although the program was funded for only one year, we have reached out to our partners and are currently able to offer the class every Wednesday for a small fee," said Lael Duncan, Executive Director of Okanogan County Community Action."This fee is paid by DSHS and Worksource if you are enrolled in Work first or Worksource Job search classes."Folks should check with their case workers to be sure they qualify, but even if a person has to pay the fee, there is still a big bonus in graduating from the class," Duncan continued."PUD No. 1 will waive basic service connection deposit requirements for low income individuals who have completed the course.Local partners who understand local challenges have made all the difference in helping to continue this program while we seek more stable, continuation of funding."In addition to the Bounce Back program, Community Action is promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit as well as the free tax preparation sites offered under the leadership of the Northwest Justice Project, Individual Development Accounts and Homeownership Counseling. For more information on these programs or services offered by Community Action, please contact Lael Duncan at 422-4041 or toll free 1-877-641-0101 or email laeld@occac.com.

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  Board Meeting Minutes - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/26/2005    Last Visited: 4/27/2007  

  Lael Duncan - Okanogan County Community Action Council;
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  Lael Duncan, Okanogan County Community Action Council Executive Director, thanked the District for its past support.In honor of OCCAC's 40th anniversary, a $10,000,000 endowment fund is being established over the next seven years as a permanent resource for funding to support future projects.Duncan encouraged the District and its staff to continue their involvement by participating in fundraising activities.

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