SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — More than 50 volunteers set out from Mary Hall Freedom Village in Sandy Springs Jan. 23 to survey the area’s unsheltered population for the annual Fulton County Continuum of Care Point in Time Count.
Point in time counts provide lawmakers and funding organizations with information on the number, demographics and characteristics of people experiencing homelessness.
In Fulton County, the Continuum of Care promotes funding and programs to combat homelessness in Fulton cities. Atlanta has its own continuum of care.
Data is then sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which uses the results to determine federal funding to address homelessness.
The organized count covered the cities of Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Milton, Alpharetta and Roswell. Mountain Park will also be canvassed through Jan. 30 when the Point in Time formally ends.
South Fulton County canvassing was scheduled for Jan. 24.
Fulton County Senior Public Affairs Officer Mark Baucom said 126 volunteers were registered for the Point in Time Count as of Jan. 17.
While the Point in Time is critical for securing funding to address homelessness, Dawn Butler said it is not comprehensive. Butler serves as the Fulton County Department of Community Development Health and Human Services division manager.
“We’re not expected to count every homeless person, but we want to count as many homeless people, and it is a snapshot,” she said.
Butler said her department also uses the data from the Point in Time to adjust their focus throughout the year. The count can determine which populations have the most need or which have increased since the previous year.
Butler said the Point in Time gathers important data for the government, but it also spurs community outreach.
Local nonprofits are involved in the effort. North Fulton Community…
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