The Housing Continuum of Care of Bucks County (HCOCBC) plans to conduct a countywide “Point in Time” count of unsheltered homeless individuals on Wednesday, county officials said earlier this month.
The count is part of an yearly nationwide is initiative of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assess the extent and characteristics of homelessness across the country.
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The first such survey, according to county officials, took place in 2008, with this year’s count being the seventh such survey conducted in Bucks.
The Point in Time count serves as the primary source of data locally and nationally to understand trends and characteristics of those living with the challenge of homelessness Part of the effort seeks to track progress of efforts to prevent and end homelessness throughout communities nationally
County survey teams reach out to homeless individuals and families providing linkage to services and to immediate shelter’s such as the cold blue sites throughout the county.
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The survey breaks down the homeless population into two categories. Those who are “sheltered” i.e. living in temporary housing or a shelter for example and those who are unsheltered, living in or around tent cities in the area for example.
According to county statistics, the number of sheltered homeless has remained steady over the last three years and last years reported number of sheltered homeless was at 325.
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Survey organizers welcome any information from community members to identify locations where homeless individuals may have been observed or are suspected of living. Anyone with information regarding potential locations is urged to contact Bucks County staff members Scott Griffith at 215-345-3840 orsgriffith@co.bucks.pa.us or Emma Weisser at 215 345 3370 or eweisser@co.bucks.pa.us.
This story will be updated later this week as Publisher Editor Jeff Bohen interviews officials about the issue of homelessness in Bucks County
