NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 26, 2017
CONTACT: Stacy Radosevich,
Homeless Programs Planner
218-726-2543
Annual count of homeless in St. Louis County to be conducted this week
Despite this region's improving economy, there are still people who are homeless in our community and who, for a variety of reasons, avoid shelters even at this time of year, risking winter’s elements.
How many people live this way, as “unsheltered homeless”, is the focus of an annual count,
which St. Louis County’s Public Health and Human Service Department is conducting beginning tomorrow. The County is working with community service providers and agencies to complete a federally required Point in Time Homeless Count. The purpose is to identify people who are homeless and not staying in a shelter tonight, January 26, 2017.
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.
New in 2017 will be special focus on the youth population up to age 25 who are living without a parent or guardian, and who may or may not have their own dependent children.
This annual survey is important because money and resources awarded to communities to fight homelessness are based on documented counts of homeless persons and families.
St. Louis County will be collecting information beginning January 27, through February
3, in order to find and document where homeless people spent the night of January 26. For
citizens who have information or for people who are homeless and willing to complete a brief,
five-minute survey, county staff and other partners will be at the following locations on Friday,
January 27, in Duluth:
- Government Services Center (lobby), 320 West 2nd Street, 9 a.m. to noon
- Damiano Center, 206 West 4th Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Life House, 102 West 1st Street, after 1 p.m.
In northern St. Louis County, surveys can be completed at:
- AEOA, 702 3rd Avenue South, Virginia, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
-
Range Transitional Housing, 442 Pine Mill Court, Virginia, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Range Transitional Housing, 2121 2nd Avenue East, Hibbing 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Range Mental Health, 504 1st Street North, Virginia. Additional staff and volunteers will provide outreach at remote locations.
People also can provide information by calling United Way 2-1-1, or Street Outreach at (218) 461-8505.
For questions in Duluth contact Stacy Radosevich at (218) 726-2543, or on the Range contact AEOA at (218) 749-2912.
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