Agencies that work with Augusta’s homeless community are preparing for a major event that will include a comprehensive count of the number of people living without a home.
The count is part of the annual Point-in-Time that is required of all communities with a Continuum of Care program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Augusta-Richmond County is one of more than 400 communities nationwide with a continuum of care.
The Point-in-Time count is usually held the last 10 days of January; however, because of the surge of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant, it was delayed until Feb. 18 through Feb. 28.
The count includes people who are unsheltered and sheltered. The largest undertaking will be on Feb. 23 – the night volunteers fan out across Richmond County to locate and count every homeless individual they can locate.
“We’ll be going out in teams in different sections of the city, basically zones that the police department uses, because it’s just easier for us to break down the city that way. And going out to the encampments that are in the woods, under the bridges, in abandoned buildings,” said Bethany Trapp with the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc.
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Trapp said this year’s count is particularly important. The 2021 Point-in-Time was cancelled because of COVID-19, so this will be the first comprehensive count in two years.
The Feb. 23 count is more than any one agency or organization can do on its own. Volunteers are needed to go out in teams from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. Trapp said anyone who can work only a few hours is welcome to join them. Each team will be accompanied by a representative from law enforcement. Volunteers are advised to dress for a cold night in uncertain terrain.
“A hoodie, jacket, boots, something that you can feel comfortable going traipsing in the woods. Tennis shoes probably not a great idea. Gloves, hats, mask. Flashlights are the biggest thing and smartphones because you will be trained on how to use the counting app. You will be taking information, serving a homeless person, getting some basic information and then giving them some information in return,” Trapp said.
Trapp said participating in the count can be a humbling experience.
“It stays on my mind, especially when it’s cold or rainy. I’m going home to my very warm, nice house. I have a bed to sleep in, I have a pillow that doesn’t have bugs in it. I know where all my food is coming from. And our homeless friends are trying to find a warm place, a dry place, a safe place. A place that they can lock the door. That’s the most important part for a lot of our homeless is having someplace they can lock the door and know that they’re safe and know that nobody’s coming in. Nobody’s going to steal their stuff. And they’re not going to be bothered,” said Trapp.
Anyone interested in volunteering can call Lynda Barrs with the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc. at (706) 724-8588 or email your name and contact information to lbarrs@csraeoa.org
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
