SPOKANE, Wash. — It’s no secret Spokane has a homelessness problem, but how can we best address it? An initiative trying to answer this question is officially underway.
Volunteers for the Point-In-Time Count are spread through downtown Spokane and other parts of the county. The information collected will play a vital role in informing policy makers on all levels and guide decision making on how this region addresses homelessness.
“It gives us really our best kind of single point in time opportunity to understand the state of homelessness in our county,” said event coordinator Jon Klapp.
While the Point-In-Time Count is a way for the county to gather data on homelessness, it also creates an opportunity for face-to-face interactions and thoughtful conversations, giving homeless people in our community an opportunity to tell their story.
“It’s something that I feel like many people have a stigma about or are unsure about,” said volunteer Katelyn Costanza. “But these are people just like anyone else. And I see these people, my neighbors.”
Costanza is one of the 400 volunteers signed up for this year’s Point-In-Time Count. Over the next few days, these volunteers will be interacting with homeless people in Spokane County, handing out snacks, hand warmers and surveying them to gather demographic information.
“I think that this is one step in providing more information so that people can begin to understand this issue,” Costanza said.
The Point-In-Time Count is a national requirement and an essential part for the county to secure funding towards homeless resources. On top of these practical benefits, it’s the connections it creates that stand out the most to Klapp.
“Being able to make personal connections with people that are out there, maybe meeting someone who’s homeless for the first time. Understanding that it’s another human being that has a life’s journey that’s gotten them here,” he said.
Data collected is expected to be released in May.
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