28-02-2025
Point-in-Time count determines approximately 164 homeless people in county
ANDERSON — Preliminary numbers from a Point-in-Time survey conducted last month indicate approximately 164 county residents are considered homeless.
Amber Gordon, the Point-in-Time coordinator with Aspire of Indiana, told members of the Anderson Homeless Task Force Thursday that the most recent numbers are consistent with a year ago.
Gordon explained the U.S. Housing & Urban Development Department set the date of Jan. 29 for the count.
She said 100 surveys were completed and 88 were confirmed as being from a homeless person.
Gordon said that is a preliminary number; the organization is awaiting numbers from the Christian Center in Anderson, Anderson Restoration Church and a men's shelter in Elwood.
The final count will be determined in April or May.
She said last year the count determined 164 people were considered homeless.
'We ask, Where did you sleep last night?' Gordon said of the survey.
She said that includes sleeping outdoors, in a vehicle, in transitional housing with a friend or family member or in a shelter.
'We had volunteers at multiple locations,' Gordon said of the annual count.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Homeless Task Force, created by the Anderson City Council in 2024, voted to approve job descriptions to hire two employees: one to develop a strategic plan, and the other to write grants.
Committee members said there was a need for a low-barrier shelter because many of the homeless don't want to stay in shelters that have specific rules.
'People need a place to sleep,' committee member Tamie Dixon-Tatum said. 'We need to look at ways to help people, instead of just looking at them as a problem.'
She said a committee recommended a budget of $50,000 for both the hiring of a strategic planner and a grant writer.
The Anderson City Council in December voted to allocate $250,000 from American Rescue Plan funds for the task force.
'We need a strategic plan for immediately and the long term,' said Whitney Johnson, vice president of the task force. 'We're venting our frustrations and recognizing the need.'
Pam Shoot, chairperson for the Anderson Christian Center, said they recently hired Pendleton resident Angie Mollenkopf to work on a strategic plan.
'We spent months looking for a strategic planner,' she said. 'It's more than homelessness; we have to do it as a community.'
Shoot said the Christian Center looked for someone to help develop a strategy and to address the problems facing Anderson.
'This will take our entire community,' she said.
Shoot recommended that the Homeless Task Force consider working with the Christian Center on a strategic plan.
