A statewide tally of homeless Mississippians conducted last week shows that Lowndes County numbers are down.
Mississippi United to End Homelessness conducted a point-in-time count of the state’s homeless population from Jan. 26 through Jan. 30.
The count found 38 homeless people in Lowndes County on Jan. 26. Surveys are still being tallied, however, and local MUTEH surveyor Danielle Styron said that number will likely rise to 40.
Lowndes County counted 57 homeless individuals in last years’ count and 121 in 2013.
The count is part of a national effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. States across the nation conduct a point-in-time during the final ten days of January. Mississippi has been participating in the census since 2007, according to state point-in-time coordinator Reginald Glenn.
Glenn said HUD’s definition of homelessness extends to those living in shelters and those living on the streets. HUD, unlike other groups, does not count people forced to stay with family members, crashing on couches or being put up in hotels as homeless.
This definition of homelessness may be narrow, but it is the one officials rely on — the count gathered from the census is the official number presented to Congress and the White House in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report, according to Glenn.
Of the 38 counted so far, all but two were found in shelters around town. Styron left surveys at Last House on the Block, Helping Hands, Salvation Army and United Way.
Finding those staying out of shelters or local assistance groups is the biggest challenge.
“Unsheltered people are a little bit more difficult to try to contact,” Styron said. “They’re more difficult to find, and I know they’re out there.”
Styron and her husband, Kevin Styron, drove around Lowndes County together searching for unsheltered homeless persons. Oftentimes they don’t want to be found and there are many abandoned shelters within Lowndes County where people could be staying.
The Styrons approached a man they believe to be living in the woods near Highway 82. He denied that he lived there, but Styron still counted him.
When she found a man hitchhiking on Highway 45 Alternate, Styron surveyed him and asked if he needed any help. The man said he had all he needed.
The survey asks people what led to their homelessness and how long they have been homeless. Styron said the majority have been homeless four to six months. The most common contributors to homelessness for those surveyed by Styron have been family issues, medical conditions and substance abuse. She said most are open to being approached and willing to partake with in the survey. Thirty-seven of the 38 agreed have a photo taken.
Styron said the best way for the community to help the homeless is to try to find them.
“There’s so many resources here to help them get back housed,” Styron said. “So, it’s just a matter of getting the word out that there are services here that will help homelessness.”
“We have to realize these are people, and they had lives and something dramatic happened to them that caused the homelessness,” she said. “Getting to the root of what that was is the issue. And letting them know that there is hope out there, and if they want it, it’s there.”
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