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Pictured is a local bridge where a homeless person has been seeking
shelter.
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Counting the Homeless
in Darke Co.
January 27th is the date set for the Point-In-Time study of a
twenty-four hour period to tally the number of sheltered homeless and
those persons who are homeless and cannot be surveyed. There are those
individuals living in cars, at campgrounds, under bridges or other
locations throughout the county. Homelessness is not just in
Greenville. Even the smallest town in Darke County has those that are
not sheltered.
The history of this study goes back to September of 2004 when the Darke
County Continuum of Care was created and dedicated to ending
homelessness within our communities. The intent is to raise awareness
of the factors that put people at risk, working together in addressing
all contributing factors and securing necessary support services to
assist individuals and families in maintaining safe, affordable and
decent housing.
The purpose of the local Continuum of Care is the framework for a
comprehensive array of outreach, emergency shelter, transitional and
permanent housing, and supportive services to address the varying needs
of persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The local
plan is also a prerequisite to applying for federal housing grants
through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Other funding entities such as state Ohio Department of Development and
local governments are also requiring the sign off from the local
Continuum of Care. With the efforts of the Darke County Continuum of
Care, additional funding has been made available to Darke County to
prevent homelessness and to assist those who are homeless to find
stable housing.
Carol Littman, contact person for the Point-In-Time Study, stated,
“This year, the local study is mandatory. Places we are contacting
include veterans’ organizations, nursing homes, hotels, churches, the
homeless shelters, and many social service agencies.” She explained,
“The importance of the study is to try and recognize the barriers that
people face and to help them before they become homeless. The Darke
County Emergency Homeless assisted 85 individuals in 2014.” She also
stated that if anyone knows of someone who is homeless or even living
in a camper in the back yard on January 27th, please help by calling
the CAP office.
Littman went on to say that Community Action Partnership currently has
funds to assist those who are homeless through HCRP/Rapid Rehousing
funds. Those who are eligible can be assisted with first month’s rent
and deposit. The point of contact for the P-I-T study is Community
Action Partnership (CAP), 1469 Sweitzer St., Greenville, OH 45331,
phone 937-548-8143.
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