For Immediate Release: Barnstable County Releases Results of 2022 Annual Point in Time Homeless Count
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Information from Barnstable County Department of Human Services
The Point in Time Count is a HUD-mandated activity for all Continuums of Care, a function of the Barnstable County Department of Human Services
April 15, 2022 (Barnstable, MA) – The Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness has released its 2022 findings from the Annual Point in Time Count which took place on February 22, 2022, on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.
The Point in Time (PIT) counts people experiencing homelessness in emergency shelters, transitional housing, motels (if paid for by an agency), on the street, in cars, in abandoned buildings, and in other places not meant for human habitation. The Count collects information on age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and veteran status of the individuals and families included in the count. The PIT does not count persons or families who are doubled-up and/or living with family and friends. Historically conducted during the last ten days of January, the 2022 PIT was conducted in February after the Regional Network applied for an extension due to the volume of COVID cases at that time.
On the Cape and Islands, the total number of homeless persons (adults and children, sheltered and unsheltered) counted on the night of February 22, 2022, was 397, an increase of 54 from last year, and the highest number of homeless persons counted in the past eight years. This upsurge in numbers may be attributable to increased collaboration and expansion of survey efforts on Martha’s Vineyard. Likewise, the availability of COVID funding and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding enabled agencies to provide more opportunities for Emergency Shelter utilization through expanded motel voucher programs. The increase in homeless persons from 2021 to 2022 were recorded across all housing situations.
Traditionally, volunteers from dozens of agencies across the Cape and Islands assist in collecting information during the PIT count. As with the 2021 count, in 2022 HUD encouraged COVID measures to ensure the health and safety of staff, volunteers, and homeless persons. In response, case managers and outreach personnel from local organizations collaboratively developed innovative methods of identifying and surveying both sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons in the Cape and Islands Region. According to Joseph Pacheco, Director of Human Services for Barnstable County, “The Point in Time Count is a community wide effort and serves as a guide in both planning and allocation of resources. Annual data collection helps ensure we have a better understanding of the number and demographics of the homeless population and allows us to focus on emerging trends.”
The Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness is a broad based public private partnership committed to identifying and implementing solutions to ending homelessness on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. The complete results of the 2022 PIT are available at www.bchumanservices.net.
ABOUT THE BARNSTABLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES: The mission of the Department of Human Services is to plan, develop, and implement programs that enhance the overall delivery of human services in Barnstable County and promote the health and social well-being of County residents through regional efforts that improve coordination of services. For more information, visit us at:
https://www.bchumanservices.net/
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https://twitter.com/HumanServicesBC
https://www.facebook.com/healthyconnectedcapecod/
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD: Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offers a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.barnstablecounty.org
For More Information:
Martha Taylor, HMIS Program Manager
508-375-6625
martha.taylor@capecod.gov
