Homeless ‘point in time’ survey is counting on your help

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – This year, there is more need than ever to help those who experience homelessness.

It’s cold outside, the winds are brutal on any given day, and if you stand out there long enough, your hands and toes begin to lose circulation.

Imagine living this day in and day out.

Every year on the last 10 days of January, communities conduct a count of the homeless.

This year, the “point-in-time” count will be Jan. 22-31 in Augusta.

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

“Our homeless point in time is our annual count of our sheltered and unsheltered individuals here in our community,” said Tammy Ruth, homeless coordinator for Augusta Housing Community Development.

It’s not just a time to count the homeless but also an opportunity along with at least 15 shelters and pop-up shelters to provide resources to the homeless.

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.

They are expecting numbers to grow even higher this year.

“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. Homelessness is fluid. There’s a lot of times where we may not find them in encampments,” said Trapp.

This year, there are more shelters than ever, and the call has gone out for community assistance with the count and with putting together survival kits.

Close to 150 volunteers are needed to pull this off.

“We are currently sitting at around 104 volunteers. We would love to see about 40 or 50 more, just to make sure that we have all of that coverage,” said Trapp.

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Both day and night volunteers are needed, and they’ll need to attend a training session.

Donation needs include toiletries, sleeping bags, dry foods and canned foods.

Ruth said: “We have a task for any community member that has a desire to help and make a meaningful impact in their community.”

LaDonna Doleman, manager at the Master’s Table soup kitchen, says every little bit counts to save and change a life.

“Everyone counts. Every meal counts. Every volunteer counts. Every guest counts. Every family, every meal counts, and we are changing lives every day,” said Doleman.

Trapp explained why it’s rewarding to volunteer: “Most of all, it is a way for those who care about homelessness to get involved and make a difference in their local community.”

To volunteer, visit https://forms.gle/3gkmS2FQhAQYM5wi8.

THE SCHEDULE:

FACES OF HOMELESSNESS IN AUGUSTA:

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