I can think of plenty of places to get a decent coffee here in T-town, and I could probably figure out where to get a cigar without too much effort. But I must admit I'm coming up short on suggestions for the other items that Twitter user Ben Dobyns seeks.

Is there anybody out there who can help out?

And while you're at it, if you have any idea what this all means -- well, maybe I don't want to know.

Pierce County’s Department of Community Services released the results of its 2009 Homeless Survey today.

The results show that on Jan. 29 and 30, 2,083 men, women and children identified themselves as being without permanent housing.

The total is up 19 percent over last year’s survey. That means an added 336 people, most of whom are living in transitional housing.

The number of families also is up by 111, or 43 percent, over 2008. Included in those families are 113 children, a rise of 21 percent.
The survey is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. By H.U.D.’s definition, people who sleep outside or in shelters or live in emergency or transitional housing are counted among the homeless.

The people who fan out through the county with brief questionnaires are the first to say that this survey is just a snapshot. They are missing families who are bunking with relatives, or living in recreational vehicles, cars and tents and trying not to be noticed. They are missing

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