Every two years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts what it calls a point-in-time count of homeless people. It's intended to provide a snapshot of every homeless person in every community in the country.
In a November meeting with other social service agencies that discussed the count, David Allhusen, who works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Services in Casper described it as "scraping the yard." Cancer, heart disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, food, clothing are several issues to be dealt with on the long road to ending chronic homelessness among veterans.
To make the count, local organizations -- like the VA, Casper Housing Authority, Self Help Center and other groups -- take time one day in late January to tally all the emergency shelter beds in the region and whether they are occupied. Then, they "scrape the yard" by walking the streets and seeking out any homeless who may be roughing it on their own. "If you find somebody who's homeless, look at their feet -- shoes are a major issue," said Allhusen, "We buy shoes for them."
The date of the count is mandated for late January by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which includes representatives from several federal agencies.
In a November meeting with other social service agencies that discussed the count, David Allhusen, who works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Services in Casper described it as "scraping the yard." Cancer, heart disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, food, clothing are several issues to be dealt with on the long road to ending chronic homelessness among veterans.
To make the count, local organizations -- like the VA, Casper Housing Authority, Self Help Center and other groups -- take time one day in late January to tally all the emergency shelter beds in the region and whether they are occupied. Then, they "scrape the yard" by walking the streets and seeking out any homeless who may be roughing it on their own. "If you find somebody who's homeless, look at their feet -- shoes are a major issue," said Allhusen, "We buy shoes for them."
The date of the count is mandated for late January by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which includes representatives from several federal agencies.
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