MARQUETTE, MI-- Officials in Alger, Marquette, and Schoolcraft counties will try to count the number of homeless in the region this month.
Every January more than 400 Continuums of Care—or entities that provide housing for homeless families or individuals—in more than 3,000 cities and counties across the country organize volunteers to measure the scale of homelessness in the U.S. The effort takes into account people in shelters and on the streets at a single point in time. The Point-in-Time count for Alger, Marquette, and Schoolcraft counties will be held from noon on January 27 to noon on January 28. Those who are homeless are urged to attend a local community lunch in their area to be included in the effort. Officials say achieving an accurate count is critical to getting funding and support, and for agencies to develop a thoughtful response.
The U.P. count is being coordinated by the Alger-Marquette-Schoolcraft Continuum of Care and involves more than 40 agencies and law enforcement departments. Because there are no formal homeless shelters except Marquette’s Room at the Inn, “couch surfing” is the most common form of homelessness, and those are the cases where help is most needed.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the Point-in-Time count should call Jennifer Gorton at 906-226-7410, extension 24.
