Concerned residents, business owners, educators and city government representatives gathered last week at the United Methodist Church to collaborate with the Puyallup Homeless Coalition on formulating an action plan.

People were divided into groups that looked at four topics: further collaboration with the Puyallup School District on behalf of homeless students; private and public partnerships to generate an emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing; affordable housing development; and enhanced community education.

“We hope we will pique your interest in these ideas and get people’s involvement,” said Ted Brackman, a spokesman for the coalition.

The coalition invited Dorothy Wilgus, a school counselor at Firgrove Elementary, to paint a picture of what a homeless child in the Puyallup School District looks like.

“Every child is affected by homelessness,” she said. “They look like your kids, they eat like your kids, they hope like your kids. But what we find is they have a lot of energy to cover up what is happening in their family. These children find it hard to explain that they don’t have a place to do their homework. Their parent is busy keeping the car warm.”

Wilgus said homeless children are learning resiliency.

“The best we can do is remind them that they matter,” she said.

On ideas for collaborating more with the school district, people suggested having a clearing house for resources to McKinney-Vinto students. Also, opening high schools for showers would be a good idea, they said.

The group also discussed how the root cause of homelessness can stem from a lack of affordable housing. Continuing to make incentives for private development for new affordable housing was at the forefront of the discussion Wednesday night.

The group also discussed making more face-to-face opportunities between the homeless and the public to enhance the community education. In addition, they wanted to get the word out to more churches and service organizations to advance community education.

Sean Langdon, vice chairman for the coalition, said the group launched a website in 2011. He encouraged attendees to “like” the coalition’s page on Facebook.com.

Langdon also announced the coalition will host its first fundraiser this year. Financial donations can be made to the coalition via Homeward Bound of Puyallup.

Ideas generated during the forum will be part of a more in-depth discussion divided among four specialized subcommittee groups.

“It’s wonderful to see how much the community cares,” Coalition Chair Paula Anderson said. “We’re looking at six months to a year to attend these subcommittees. It’s a community issue, and it takes a community to solve the issue of homelessness.”

Reach Puyallup reporter Andrew Fickes at 253-841-2481 Ext. 313 or email at andrew.fickes@puyallupherald.com.