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Summer Point-In-Time Homeless Count
Summer Point-In-Time Homeless Count
Sussex County Division of Community and Youth Services
Will Hold a Summer Point-In-Time Homeless Count
Every year in January, all 21 counties in the state of New Jersey conduct a "Point-In-Time Count" of homeless individuals and families whom are either sheltered or unsheltered. This year, the Sussex County Human Services Advisory Council has made the decision to conduct a second homeless count in the month of July to establish whether there is a significant difference in the number of homeless individuals during the summer months versus the winter months. The count will be organized by the Homeless Coordination Committee, a sub-committee of the Human Services Advisory Council. This committee includes networks of organizations, human service agencies, volunteers and community members who collaborate together on efforts to end homelessness.
Factors that contribute to this count of homeless families, youth and veterans include:
- Shelters reporting inability to house homeless families,
- A shortage of rental housing driving up demand and costs,
- Foreclosures causing many owners and renters to lose their homes, and
- The many jobs throughout the state of New Jersey that do not pay a living wage.
On July 27, 2016, volunteers will be seeking out homeless residents in emergency shelters, in the woods, under bridges, in vacant buildings and in other locations where people may be residing because they have not been able to secure sufficient affordable or supportive housing for themselves and/or their families. The count is expected to provide a better understanding of the nature of Sussex County's homeless population so that the limited resources available can most appropriately meet their needs. For more information on the Homeless Coordination Committee, the Human Services Advisory Council or the annual homeless Point-In-Time counts conducted through the Sussex County Department of Human Services, Division of Community and Youth Services, please contact Elizabeth Larsen, Human Services Advisory Council Coordinator at (973) 940-5200 ext. 1286 or via email at elarsen@sussex.nj.us.