On a single day in January each year, outreach workers fan out across the country in search of those without homes, hoping to provide a snapshot of the scope of homelessness.
The Point-in-Time Count provides numbers that are analyzed and sent to the federal government. In return, funds are given to communities to try to combat homelessness.
Collier County just finished its analysis. There were 660 unhoused people counted. That’s 40 less than were counted last year.
Of note, the survey is voluntary and the unhoused must agree to be counted. Many do not want to participate.
On the surface, the overall number looks to be a reason for celebration, but it’s not, says Michael Overway the director of Lee and Collier counties homeless coalitions. The number, he said, is way off: “It’s about a third of those that we really believe are experiencing homelessness.”
For various accounting reasons, the 660 figure provided to the government does not include the known 1,665 school students who do not have a home. On top of that, it’s just not humanly possible to find all of the unhoused in just one single day, Overway said.
Also concerning are the 406 people counted who are not living in emergency or transitional housing like a homeless or domestic violence shelter, Overway said. Instead, they live in their cars, in alleys behind buildings and in the woods. That number is 59% more than last year.
“So that’s a significant increase in those unsheltered,” Overway said.
The Point-in-Time Count also found that out that, of those 660:
- Nearly one out of every six is a veteran.
- One out of 10 is a senior citizen.
- And contrary to misconception, the chronically homeless only made up a fraction of the unhoused -- 48.
- Eighty-four people have mental health issues
- Nearly one out of six have a substance abuse disorder
- Seventy-one are on the streets because of substance abuse disorders
- Three have AIDs
Overway was not surprised by the findings considering Collier County is considered the second richest county in the state.
"You might have the most wealth, but it really doesn’t matter," he said. "It doesn’t really matter because wealth isn’t doing anything to end homelessness and progress.”
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