Homelessness count conducted

On Thursday, Jan. 25, 50 volunteers gathered throughout the day at the First Presbyterian Church in San Marcos to locate and count the homeless population in Hays County.

The count was conducted by the Homeless Coalition of Hays County. The organizers of the official Point In Time Count were Patsy Ann Reed, PIT Count Planning Team Coordinator, and Nancy Heintz, PIT Lead Co-Coordinator.

“The Teams were made up of a driver, a spotter who helped navigate their assigned area, and one or two surveyors,” Heintz said. “The surveyors used a Counting Us mobile app on their phone to complete the survey with the people they encountered who were willing to participate in the survey.”

She added, “Each team was given a notebook that contained information concerning their assigned area, maps and suggested locations.” Each team was also given a 90-minute training session before the PIT Count.

The complete data report from Texas Homeless Network will be received in late March or early April. This data becomes the official data on homelessness for Hays County for 2024. Organizations are able to use this data to support grant applications and other funding or supportive service requests. The count takes place nationwide during the same week in January.

Reed said, “Survey Team volunteers were able to select from several donated supplies to be given out to the people they engaged with.”

Those supplies included string bags filled with toiletries, protein snacks, water bottles, mylar blankets, socks, caps, gloves, scarves and sack lunches. The homeless were also invited to a hot lunch at Southside Community Center provided by Nutty Brown HEB with desserts donated by volunteers at First Baptist Church in San Marcos.

Reed thanked all PIT Count donors and donor organizations, including Salvation Army, Hays County Food Bank, Wesley Chapel AME Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, San Marcos Public Library, Community Action and First Presbyterian Church San Marcos.