By Janelle Fisher
Intern
BROWN COUNTY – Next week, volunteers will take to the streets to conduct the year’s second of two Point-In-Time counts, which records the number of unsheltered homeless individuals currently in Brown County.
The count, which will start late Wednesday, July 27, and run into the morning of Thursday, July 28, serves as a gauge to provide an accurate number of people experiencing homelessness in Brown County, Newcap Deputy Housing Director Erika Villacrez said.
“The Point-In-Time count is an unduplicated count of those experiencing homelessness on a single night,” she said. “This includes both sheltered and unsheltered populations.”
Villacrez said the Point-In-Time count takes place across the country every January, with the first nationwide count occurring in 2005.
Here in Wisconsin, however, she said the count occurs twice a year.
“It is done nationally every January,” she said. “But Wisconsin does it every January and July, due to the January weather conditions preventing an accurate depiction of what the unsheltered homeless numbers are in our state.”
Villacrez said the homeless population is more likely to be able to find a place to stay in the winter than in the summer, due to the harsh weather conditions.
“People are just more open to letting people stay with them during the winter due to the temperature,” she said. “But in the summer, we have a population of folks that do reside out there in the elements, in their tents and things like that, just because there’s fewer shelter beds and their friends are less likely to say ‘Yeah, come crash with me.’”
Emerging trends
Villacrez said one of the goals for each Point-In-Time count is to be more thorough than the previous count and to make sure no one is missed.
“This allows us to hopefully not miss anyone that is unsheltered, along with continuing to increase the number of ‘known locations’ where people might stay,” she said.
Last July, Villacrez said the Point-In-Time count found 38 unsheltered homeless in Brown County.
The number from the January 2022 count was slightly lower, with 28 people found unsheltered.
Leading up to this year’s summer count, Villacrez said it is possible it will reveal the highest number recorded in Brown County, but the job of those providing resources remains the same.
“We have seen an increase in unsheltered homelessness over the past couple of years, and we do predict that this July’s count might be the highest count we have had in Brown County,” she said. “While there are a variety of reasons that play into why the unsheltered numbers are up, our job as providers is to continue to build rapport with those on the street, along with assisting them in working through the barriers that may be preventing them from housing or shelter options.”
Villacrez said she expects to see a significantly higher number of unsheltered homeless individuals recorded in this summer’s count than what was recorded last summer.
“This summer we have hit a record number of people on the street faster than we did last summer,” she said. “On any given night, our street outreach coordinator at Newcap is tracking at least 100 people who are staying outside in places not meant for human habitation.”
Villacrez said this summer, there are already 123 identified unsheltered homeless.
“In my opinion, we are likely going to find more unsheltered people on the streets this count than we did last summer,” she said.
Divide and conquer
In order to make it through all of Brown County in one night, with as much accuracy as possible, Villacrez said the county is divided into zones and volunteers are divided into teams to make sure each zone is thoroughly covered.
“Within those zones, we have specific ‘known areas’ that people have stayed or are likely to stay,” she said. “So, we ask people, when they’re assigned to their zone, to make sure that they check those known areas, and then continue to comb the streets. They drive down every street possible – up alleys, in parking lots and things like that.”
Villacrez said more volunteers are sent to places where the numbers are expected to be higher, and other groups, such as law enforcement, are utilized to fill in the gaps in more rural areas where lower numbers are anticipated.
Benefits of the count
Data gathered during the count, Villacrez said, is used as a tool for understanding the extent of homelessness in Brown County and to help direct change.
“The data collected the night of the Point-In-Time count is utilized to help government officials, advocates and community members understand the current scope and trends of homelessness in our communities,” she said. “Ultimately, the data helps drive funding – it can provide educational opportunities for the community, inform politicians about the state of homelessness and increase funding opportunities for the community. Additionally, the Point-In-Time count helps the local homeless and housing coalition direct and adjust services to help meet the need.”
The count serves as more than just a source of data, Villacrez said, as those conducting the count also provide resources as they move throughout the county.
“During the count, agency staff and volunteers are equipped to provide resources and basic need items,” she said. “Whenever possible, those that are unsheltered are offered shelter stays or hotel vouchers.”
Villacrez said the Point-In-Time count can also be impactful for the volunteers.
“I personally think that the Point-In-Time count can be life changing for people that participate,” she said. “Literally, meeting people where they are at – in their most vulnerable times – can be powerful. It helps oneself recognize their own privilege, and it provides the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.”
Even simple interactions can have a significant impact, Villacrez said, and she recommends everyone participate in the count at least once.
“Perhaps that impact is made by providing access to shelter that night or a toothbrush and toothpaste or even just by treating them like a human being with dignity and respect in those moments,” she said. “It’s incredible to be a part of, and I highly recommend that people participate at least once in their life if they feel called to.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for this year’s count can reach out to Newcap at 1-800-242-7334 and request to speak with Aria from the housing department.