Just two meetings in, they have a name, a fund to help the homeless (almost) and plenty of momentum.

Sequim Cares, a coalition of representatives from Sequim-area faith groups and nonprofits brought together with the goal of helping solve local homelessness issues, is seeing its first project come to fruition thanks to a collaboration with the Sequim Police Department and the City of Sequim.

Speaking at the group’s second-ever meeting on May 19 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson told the group that their fund to help community members in emergency situations is close to becoming a reality.

“I might be being optimistic (but) I would like to see this go live at the beginning of next month,” Dickinson said.

The Human Services Emergency Fund would take community donations and turn them into vouchers and gift cards for those in immediate need, for those needing temporary housing or are going hungry and the like.

St. Luke’s Rev. Bob Rhoads proposed the idea, gaining support from the Sequim Cares group at its inaugural April meeting.

Dickinson said similar funds had been established throughout the country, but some steps had to be taken initially to establish a legal and secure process through the City of Sequim to accept monies.

After hearing of the fund in March, community members made donations to the fund prior to its official establishment, including a $1,000 donation.

All funds going to the Human Services Emergency Fund will be a tax-deductible donation, since it goes through the City of Sequim, Dickinson said.

“I was really impressed with the community response,” Dickinson said.

The Sequim police chief said staff will assess the impact and importance of the fund after several months.

“It’s still a big experiment,” Dickinson said. “We just don’t know what the demand is going to be.”

He noted that some individuals may try to abuse the system by consistently asking for gift cards or housing vouchers. Officers will have to make some judgment calls in most situations, he noted.

“I want to leave the officer with some discretion,” Dickinson said.

“Officers really want to help people in crisis,” he said. “On the other hand, we know we’re going to have to say no to some people. We need band aids to hold it together for some people.”

A steady population growth among local residents seeking assistance at St. Luke’s and other churches has local faith and social service group staffers looking for better ways to connect them with services in the area.

“We just started locking our doors, but we still want to present the love of Christ,” Donna Brown of Faith Lutheran Church said. “A lot of times it’s just a place to sleep … but that’s just a band aid.”

Rhoads said he sees the need each week: on May 18, St. Luke’s saw a packed house for its free Wednesday soup-and-sandwich offering. Rhoads said the church served 156 bowls of soup. (St. Luke’s has the free meals each Wednesday at noon and on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Donna Tidrick of Sequim Community Aid presented the group with an informational flier church staff and others can hand out to those seeking assistance. The flier lists a number of community services — from where to get free lunches to clothing, housing assistance, veterans services, prescription drug assistance, transportation, health care and more — complete with phone numbers and physical addresses for faith groups, nonprofits and government entities.

“I love what you guys are doing — I think it’s absolutely fantastic,” Kim Leach, executive director of Serenity House of Clallam County, told the Sequim Cares group.

Leach and Serenity House program director Viola Ware were special presenters at the Sequim Cares meeting in May.

“Our staff is a jack of all trades,” Ware said, noting that Serenity House acts as advocates for community members beyond the nonprofit’s primary mission to eliminate homelessness in the community.

Beyond temporary or transitional housing support, Ware noted Serenity House helps individuals with help with general outreach, advocating, navigating the health care system, getting veterans benefits, connecting people with jobs and more.

Ware noted that a family using a Serenity House emergency shelter in Sequim is about to transition to their own home soon after saving up funds during their temporary stay.

“Having that shelter was a godsend for them,” Ware said.

Leach said Serenity House sees as many as 65 families in emergency or transitional housing at any given time — including an estimated 150 youth children.

Sequim Cares meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday, every two months, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave. The next meeting is set for 2 p.m. on July 21.

Reach Michael Dashiell at editor@sequimgazette.com.