Each year, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires a count of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals to take place on a single day in the last week of January. This year’s count took place on Wednesday, January 26th with local coordinators recruiting volunteer teams to take on day and night shifts, interviewing people experiencing homelessness at area shelters, bus stations, health clinics, soup kitchens and more. The purpose of the count is to establish a more detailed understanding of an area’s unhoused issues so that the appropriate resources can be allocated to help those experiencing homelessness.
This year’s count was again coordinated by the Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana at the local level, and Marram Health Center participated by providing lunches for the daytime count crews at Calumet Township Multi-Purpose Center and Hammond City Hall and meal cards for the overnight teams.
“Marram is proud to aid in the Point in Time Count as part of this nationwide initiative to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness at a local level,” said Etha Lasenby, Community Outreach & Insurance Enrollment Coordinator at Marram Health Center.
The health center also donated supplies including hand sanitizer and lip balm to team members conducting interviews in the community.
“We are very appreciative of all those who came together to support this vital project this year. Their efforts will help us obtain resources and plan community programs and services for those experiencing homelessness in our greater Northwest Indiana community,” said Dr. Sharron Liggins, Executive Director at Continuum of Care Network of NWI.
Once all Point-in-Time data is compiled, a report will be released citing the homeless count in the community.
Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana is a Lake County based coalition dedicated to directing resources to unhoused individuals and ending homelessness. For more information about Marram Health Center, visit www.marramhealth.org
