Marshall County Community Foundation’s Director of Development and Communications Angela Rupchock-Schafer extended her gratitude to every citizen and volunteer who participated in last week’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.
Rupchock-Shafer has served as the PIT Count coordinator the last three years. She explained that the nation-wide survey is conducted annually in January to get an idea of how many Americans face homelessness. The Housing and Urban Development and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority dictate the date that it’s held.
She said last week’s weather had a bit of an impact on how many people were able to make it to the PIT Count Sites but noted that any amount of data is valuable because it shows that people are dealing with the issue locally.
Rupchock-Schafer emphasized that homelessness in a rural community looks much different than in an urban setting so officials simultaneously conduct a separate survey at this time, specifically targeted at people living in the area.
She shared some of the questions they include, “Have they had to couch surf within the past year? Have they had to rely on the county trustees to help them afford their rent or mortgage? Have they had to stay in the motels for any period of time?”
She continued, “Things of that nature, questions that get more to the root of what homelessness looks like here in our community in Marshall County.”
There was food set up at some of the sites and all participants walked away with a toiletry kit as a way to thank them for stepping up, being counted and representing a very real problem that many others face.
Rupchock-Schafer noted that she’ll have a better idea about how many people were able to participate last Wednesday once all the site volunteers turn in their results and they have time to analyze the surveys.
Looking ahead, she said she’d like to get a special committee formed by this summer in order to get some momentum going for next year’s PIT Count. Some of the goals they’ll be working on is increasing the number of sites and lengthening the amount of time they’re open.
If you’d be interested in helping out with the Community Foundation’s efforts to address homelessness and housing insecurity in Marshall County, contact them at 574-935-5159.
