PG County Receives Wide Support in Homeless Count

More than 200 volunteers and staff participated recently in Prince George’s County’s annual Point-In-Time count of homeless individuals and families.

Volunteers and staff worked from 6 a.m. until midnight Jan. 28 as part of a nationwide effort to identify those who are experiencing homelessness in the community, according to a news release. The groups spread out across the county to homeless encampments, parks, libraries, public transit areas, soup kitchens, shopping centers, eateries and other places known to be frequented by people experiencing homelessness during the winter months.

Community partners including the District Heights Youth Service Bureau, Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers, Promise Place and Bladensburg Community Center held events to attract homeless youth throughout the county. The Prince George’s County Public School’s Homeless Liaison’s Office also assisted in identifying high school aged unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.

Individuals, businesses and community groups who could not participate in the count donated ready-to-eat food items, water, coats, socks, hats, gloves, blankets and sleeping bags that were given to the homeless.

This year’s count used expanded and strategic data collection to target identifying veterans and unaccompanied youth. Both groups have historically been underreported during counts.

“The results of the PIT count will help to provide a snapshot of the sheltered and unsheltered homeless in the county and allow our Continuum of Care providers to continue to plan and deliver a more effective system of homeless assistance programs and services,” said Gloria Brown, director of the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services.

The PIT count will also provide opportunities to create broader partnerships and community awareness about homelessness.