Auburn mayor applauds chore-oriented Ray of Hope homeless shelter

In a region where every day seems to bring another news story about trouble at a homeless encampment, the City of Auburn is taking a very different approach to the crisis through its support of the tough-love-driven Ray of Hope day shelter, run by Debbie Christian.

“It’s really holding everyone accountable for their actions in the homeless situation, and that is from the funders, to the service providers, to those receiving services,” Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus told the Dori Monson Show.

At Ray of Hope, everyone in need is welcome to receive services — provided they give back in return in the form of performing chores around the center. A sign at the entry reads, “It is a privilege to be here,” and asks people to sign up for chores on the facility’s chore chart.

RELATED: Pierce County Sheriff’s Office clears 30 tons of waste from encampment

“You can’t just sit around and expect that you’re going to be able to stay without doing something to help support the mission,” Backus said.

The chore chart operates on the basis of the honor system. People sign up for chores based on their own physical abilities. If a person feels too ill to contribute to the communal chores, then he or she is not forced to do so; however, the person is expected to clean up after himself or herself.

“If it means that all you can do physically is clean up the table where you were eating, then you’ll clean up the table where you were eating,” Backus said. “If you can physically do more than that, perhaps you’re going to clean up inside the building or outside on the grounds.”

One of the tasks that those who are physically fit regularly perform is to clean up former homeless encampments in Auburn’s parks and along the riverbanks. Backus said that this cleanup would normally cost the city between $50,000 and $100,000 per year.

Because it is Ray of Hope, and not the city, sending people out to do this cleanup, Backus said that the city has not been challenged on any accusations of unpaid labor. Christian does give gift cards to the people who perform these tasks, though Backus said for many of the workers, the reward is the pride in a job well done.

“It gives people a sense of accomplishment,” Backus said.

In one past example, a homeless man thanked Ray of Hope for giving him the feeling that he is contributing to society once again.

“I don’t know how you argue with something like that,” Backus said.

On a scale of one to Seattle, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus places Auburn’s homelessness and opiate addiction issues at a four or five. Other city mayors Backus has talked to at the Sound Cities Association — a coalition of 38 King County cities outside of Seattle — applaud the “hold people accountable approach,” she said.

But while Backus is proud of her city’s approach, she is reluctant to pass judgment on the way that other cities handle the regional homelessness crisis.

“I believe Mayor Durkan, whom I admire greatly, is doing everything that she can,” Backus said.

Follow @NicoleKIROFM