A group working to end homelessness in East Texas held its annual Point in Time Count Thursday. More than 100 volunteers worked with the North East Homeless Consortium to count all the people who are currently homeless in a six county region of East Texas. The consortium’s Karen Holt says data collected on this one day is used in grant writing and to shape priorities for local nonprofits.
“It really impacts a lot of our local agencies that are there on the front lines assisting individuals, whether it be housing, employment or transportation. This once a year data is very far reaching,” Holt said.
The rainy day was ideal for the headcount, according to Holt, because it led to a more accurate census. People who are homeless flock to shelters to get out of the wet weather. She says this year people who were formerly homeless helped with the count and led teams into transient camps in the woods.
In recent years, the count has revealed a growing number of children who are homeless with their families.
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