St. Louis County To Conduct Their Annual Homeless Count This Evening

Census numbers are important to communities for many reasons - from funding to bragging rights.  One count that is done annually is often disheartening, but is necessary for planning.  This evening marks the Federally-required Point-in-Time Homeless Count;  consequently, officials with St. Louis County will be making their annual tally of those individuals who are homeless and not staying in a shelter tonight.

An “Unsheltered Homeless Person" - for this count - is defined as having a primary nighttime residence that is a place not meant for human habitation. Examples include a car, park, abandoned building or storage unit, bus or train station, airport, campground or woods. Additionally, the count seeks to identify “doubled up” households – those that have taken in extra family or friends who have nowhere else to go. People living in this situation meet the state’s definition of homeless.

This is an important count because money and resources awarded to communities to fight homelessness are based on documented counts of homeless persons and families. In 2015, the Point in Time Count tallied 151 homeless unsheltered individuals. Eleven of those people are veterans.

The general public can help the county in their process.  If you have information on potential homeless individuals - or if you're a homeless person willing to complete a brief, five-minute survey, county staff and their partners will be at the following locations this evening in Duluth:

• Government Services Center (lobby), 320 West 2nd Street, 9 AM to Noon
• Union Gospel Mission, 219 East 1st Street, during breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Damiano Center, 206 West 4th Street, during breakfast, lunch and dinner
• AICHO-Gimaajii at Homeless Connect, 202 West 2nd Street, Noon to 3 PM
• Life House, 102 West 1st Street, during lunch and from 3 to 6 PM

In Northern St. Louis County, survey takers will be at the following locations:

• Virginia HRA Community Room, 442 Pine Mill Court, 10 AM to 4 PM.   (Note: Arrowhead Transit will provide free transportation within Virginia to and from this location.)
• Access North, 1309 East 40th Street, Hibbing, 10 AM to 4 PM
• Veterans Service Offices at the Hibbing Courthouse and St. Louis County Service Center in Ely