World photo/Don Seabrook From left, Rebecca Quintero, Emily Vanosten, and Scott Johnson interview Amanda Strickland about her experiences of homelessness during a homeless count in January.
World photo/Don Seabrook Scott Johnson with Wenatchee Rescue Mission talks with Sascha Sleiman with Chelan County Housing to get a list of locations to find the homeless population south of Wenatchee during a homeless count in January.
World file photo/Don Seabrook Director of the Wenatchee Rescue Mission, Scott Johnson, left, talks with Sam Knapper, in charge of feeding a wood furnace used for heating the mission's lodge.
World photo/Don Seabrook Scott Johnson and Rebecca Quintero leave a homeless camp south of Wenatchee after finding no one nearby during a homeless count in January
World photo/Don Seabrook Scott Johnson and Rebecca Quintero gather supplies to hand to the homeless living along the Columbia River during the annual homeless count January 26. The two are with the Wenatchee Rescue Mission.
World photo/Don Seabrook From left, Rebecca Quintero, Emily Vanosten, and Scott Johnson interview Amanda Strickland about her experiences of homelessness during a homeless count in January.
World photo/Don Seabrook Scott Johnson with Wenatchee Rescue Mission talks with Sascha Sleiman with Chelan County Housing to get a list of locations to find the homeless population south of Wenatchee during a homeless count in January.
World file photo/Don Seabrook Director of the Wenatchee Rescue Mission, Scott Johnson, left, talks with Sam Knapper, in charge of feeding a wood furnace used for heating the mission's lodge.
World photo/Don Seabrook Scott Johnson and Rebecca Quintero leave a homeless camp south of Wenatchee after finding no one nearby during a homeless count in January
World photo/Don Seabrook Scott Johnson and Rebecca Quintero gather supplies to hand to the homeless living along the Columbia River during the annual homeless count January 26. The two are with the Wenatchee Rescue Mission.
WENATCHEE — Outreach is not new to Scott Johnson, he has over two decades of experience assisting with various missions, but the Wenatchee area is. Johnson moved here in April 2021.
Less than two years in, the impact of his work is easy to see.
To spot it, all one must do is stop by one of the cities' two safe parks — RV-style lots that offer people a safe place to stay while they work to get on firmer footing.
Or, later this year, talk to the occupants of the 45 pallet shelters that will arrive in Wenatchee. The city purchased the shelters through an agreement with the Wenatchee Rescue Mission, where Johnson serves as executive director.
"The Wenatchee community as a whole has been awesome. I've never seen a lot of people that care like they do," he said. "At the end of the day, the community has been really supportive."
For Johnson, the role requires a hands-on approach.
After a fire broke out at the valley's second safe park, Johnson was on the scene to aid impacted residents. The following morning, Johnson was out to assist in the annual count of Douglas and Chelan county residents without stable housing.
After one of the largest homeless camps in city history developed on South Columbia Street in the fall of 2021, Johnson worked to develop trust with residents and assist them. When the state Department of Transportation gave a notice to vacant last February, the mission took in around a quarter of the occupants.
"There's absolutely no way for me to understand the people we serve if I'm not out there a little bit, here and there," Johnson said. "I love working with people. I come from a background that's not the best, and so I've been in some of their shoes. I know what it's like to have nobody pay attention or nobody ask you how you are doing."
Though his work is easy to spot, there's also more Johnson hopes to accomplish.
"My goal is to actually open a small shelter that specifically addresses women, women's issues, domestic violence against women so we can put something together where they're protected. So that's something I'm really passionate about," he said.
In the phone call to discuss his award recognition, Johnson recruited others to join him in helping, however possible.
"I hope that the community can come help physically," Johnson said. "You don't have to go through training. I have a high school diploma. I don't have a big education. You just have to want to love someone. We'll help you. We'll help anybody who wants to help us."
Discuss the news on NABUR, a place to have local conversations The Neighborhood Alliance for Better Understanding and Respect ✔ A site just for our local community ✔ Focused on facts, not misinformation ✔ Free for everyone
