28-01-2025
United Way Home for Good kicks off homeless count in the Chattahoochee
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — Monday night, United Way Home for Good kicked off their annual Point In Time Count.
The Point In Time Count is a requirement by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for communities to do a full count of individuals experiencing homelessness every two years. However, the Chattahoochee Valley has been conducting its counts annually for nearly 13 years.
On Monday, groups of volunteers visited multiple shelters around the Valley to conduct the 'Sheltered Point In Time Count.' This count includes individuals who experience homelessness in temporary housing.
Pat Frey, the Vice President of United Way Home for Good says the valley does not have the stereotypical style of homeless shelters.
'It's not like a gymnasium kind of thing with a bunch of cots,' Frey explains. 'It is an apartment or a … room in an apartment … or a housing structure for a family to be in so they can have their privacy.'
The temporary housing allows those experiencing homelessness to have their immediate needs met while making sure people are connected to resources that can help end their homelessness.
'Our community, like most communities, saw an increase,' Frey shares. 'Our community, the numbers haven't gone up that much, but we have seen a post-pandemic increase.'
Frey credits the increase to folks having a difficult time keeping up with the increased prices of rent.
Conducting these counts allow United Way Home for Good to see trends and make decisions based on their findings to help end homelessness.
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