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(Editor’s note: Excerpts from a statewide press release were used, in part, to construct this article.)
The statewide annual count of individuals experiencing homelessness is underway, and Howard County will number its displaced population tomorrow, Jan. 25. The Family Service Association of Howard County (FSA) has taken on the responsibility of conducting the census locally.
The effort is part of Indiana’s Point in Time (PIT) Count for the Indiana Balance of State (BOS) Continuum of Care (CoC). The purpose of the census of people experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness is to provide an easy-to understand data point that helps state and local leaders measure progress toward ending homelessness and helps plan services and programs to appropriately address local needs.
"I can't understate how important this 'Point In Time' census of our local homeless population is," said Angela Ciski, FSA Director of Community Services. "It will help us as a community evaluate the effectiveness of the programs we currently have to assist our homeless populations and understand the barriers homeless individuals and families are struggling with. And it helps us determine if additional efforts and programs are needed. For example, we used data from a PIT count to help justify the need for Jackson Street Commons, which provides permanent, supportive housing for homeless Veterans. If the homeless population is increasing locally, we will need to prepare for that."
The PIT count isn’t just performed to identify the homeless population in communities across the nation. It also is used to determine how much funding is devoted to each region to help fight the problem. That is vital for Howard County, according to FSA Executive Director Tracy Martino.
"Like every local nonprofit, the Family Service Association must be judicious with its resources," said Martino. "Homelessness is a societal problem that a single nonprofit cannot resolve alone. By establishing the size of our homeless population, we can demonstrate our need to state and federal funding agencies, like the U.S. Department of Housing and Development, so that not only Howard County, but the entire state, may benefit from grants and allocations to assist in getting people off the streets and on the path to self-sufficiency."
According to Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, it is critical that every county is engaged in the PIT Count so that the census collects the most accurate count possible. Hundreds of service providers and volunteers throughout the state work together to canvass their communities to find individuals experiencing homelessness. They are trained in the use of the PIT survey, best practices for approaching and interviewing those experiencing homelessness, exercising trauma-informed approaches and other necessary information that prepares participants for a successful experience.
"It is essential to have an accurate Point-in-Time Count so that Indiana policymakers understand what needs to be done and what progress is being made," said Crouch. "It also ensures Indiana receives the resources we need to address the critical issue of homelessness and help some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers around the state."
While most counties are conducting their count today, Jan. 24, Howard County will engage in the PIT census tomorrow. Taking the effort a step further, they will be equipped with care packages for those who participate, which are filled with supplies such as blankets, toiletries, hats, and gloves. This additional incentive was initiated more than a decade ago when employees of the Howard County Clerk’s office helped the counting effort by filling backpacks with needed items as an enticement for participation.
The PIT count will take place in Howard County at the Kokomo Rescue Mission, 321 W. Mulberry St., from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., and at Coordinated Assistance Ministries (CAM), 625 N. Union St. from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.