Count of Homeless is the First Step to Zero: 2016

On Thursday, volunteers and staff from street outreach organizations will hit the streets and tally the number of unsheltered residents who are homeless in Montgomery County.

The initiative is the first step in the county’s Zero: 2016 Campaign headed by the county’s Department of Health and Human Services and Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless.

In 2014, about 891 individuals were homeless in Montgomery County, according to a news release. Out of this number, 35 were veterans and 176 were chronically homeless.

“We are delighted to work with our partners toward ending chronic and veterans’ homelessness in the next two years in our county,” said Nadim Khan, chief of special needs of the DHHS. “We are ready and committed for the follow up on the 100,000 Homes Campaign in the fight to end homelessness.”

Thursday’s outreach will be an effort to know each resident experiencing homelessness by name and quickly connect them with the best housing option to fit each person’s needs.

“Providing assistance for our most medically vulnerable homeless population is a top priority,” says Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal. “Having an accurate count allows us to determine the size and scope of aid the county needs to provide.”

About 80 people have registered to help with the count on Thursday.

“Working together, we can identify the homeless in Montgomery County and help to build a better future for those in need of assistance,” said County executive Ike Leggett.

-- Photo from Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless Patch post.