Point In Time Homeless Count For Region Begins Next Week

The Point in Time Homeless Count begins next Tuesday night (Jan 24th) accounting for homeless populations across 18 counties.

The federally-designated day takes place across the US including here in the Upper Cumberland. Homeless Advocacy of Rural TN Advocate Vivian Walker said the organization partners with local volunteers and community partners to count the population.

“COVID and the lack of housing is creating a new kind of homelessness, so we expect to see more elderly who are being displaced because land lords are selling,” Walker said. “We are seeing new reasons for homelessness.”

Walker said the organization uses the data to determine where to focus services. Walker said figures from the count are used by the federal housing department as well. Walker said the goal is to find where more housing is needed.

“Every state in the United States is divided into continuum of care,” Walker said. “We have 10 in the state of Tennessee. Ours is called HEART and we have 18 counties. When we get this info back we look for uptick or increases where they may need services.”

Walker said displaced children has also been a growing trend. Walker said the organization now sees children living in vehicles or shelters with their families.

A mixture of different counting tactics are used in each county. Walker said some will schedule a free meal to bring in people while others physically count the homeless population by visiting known camps.

Walker said volunteers will not focus on personal information, but collect data on a person’s situation.