As homeless count begins, volunteers expect higher numbers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Homelessness is a growing problem in Augusta, and we’ll soon get an idea about how much it’s growing.

On Monday, volunteers went out across Augusta to start the annual homeless census.

Every year on the last 10 days of January, communities conduct a “point in time” count of the homeless.

This year, Augusta’s count started Monday and will last through Jan. 31.

Shelter preps and counts are taking place at the Center of Hope, the Augusta Rescue Mission, and Garden City Rescue. They’re all wrapping up by 7 p.m.

Then comes the heavy prep for the nighttime count outside in the community, where officials with 80 to 100 volunteers will take the count, asking questions and providing care to those in the community experiencing homelessness.

It’s all hands on deck to find out how many people need a helping hand around Augusta.

“It’s been enlightening to the community to have that many volunteers that want to see it. And they’re going to pull behind the curtain a little bit,” said District 7 Commissioner Sean Frantom.

Frantom has been on multiple “point in time” counts and says while the work isn’t easy, it’s an important part of learning where Augusta’s homeless issue stems from.

“It’s interesting. You learn their different stories. Some of them are stories that’ll break your heart because you understand that maybe they just lost a job. They’re trying to find work, their veterans. There are so many different situations and you truly learn, you know, everybody in your community,” he said.

600 care packages were prepared by the Marion Barnes Center, 100 of them donated by Warren Baptist Church.

Volunteers are gathering at 9 p.m. to ask questions and get information until 6 a.m.

They don’t want to miss anyone. Shawn Rhodes with the Richmond County Marshal’s Office says the count isn’t just to get numbers by the beginning of the year, but to give out life-saving equipment to anyone they encounter when the weather is colder.

“There was a time when we could hardly even get volunteers to assist us in the last few years. I think there’s been a big, big push to educate the community and our partners on the need and now they have just come out in droves is amazing and everyone is completely excited about getting together and rallying up,” said Rhodes.

It’s a year-round effort, that once a year brings dozens together.

Janelys Villalta, with PR and Marketing at the Salvation Army of Augusta, said: “We’re always going to be able to find better ways to serve the community if we work together.”

In 2022, Augusta found 576 people experiencing homelessness. In 2023, the count grew to 643.

The count may shed light on how many of the homeless originated locally or came from elsewhere after being referred here due to the resources available in Augusta.

We do know the face of homelessness is changing.

“Homelessness looks like you and me. It looks like the child sitting next to your child in school. It looks like the doctor that may be providing care for you. It could be your attorney. It could be the person serving you at McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A, we never know who is experiencing homelessness,” said Bethany Trapp, program coordinator for Marion Barnes Assessment and Referral Center for the Homeless.

As they count the homeless and hand out “survival kits,” the roughly 150 volunteers expect to find even higher numbers.

“They’re at least double that are experiencing homelessness in Augusta. We want to try and make sure that we encapsulate all of that during this count so that we get a true number,” Trapp said. “Homelessness is fluid. There’s a lot of times where we may not find them in encampments.”

THE SCHEDULE:

FACES OF HOMELESSNESS IN AUGUSTA:

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