Marshall County Community Foundation Director of Development and Communications Angie Rupchock-Shafer recently thanked everyone who helped make this year’s Point-in-Time Count a success.
On Wednesday, January 22nd, there were several sites scattered across the county where people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity were asked to participate in surveys to allow officials to assess the needs of local individuals and families.
Director Rupchock-Shafer stated that for the first time since they began doing the PIT Count, they had coverage in all Marshall County communities; Argos, Bourbon, Bremen, Culver, LaPaz and Plymouth.
She noted that when they were down to the wire, many people stepped up to help at a moment’s notice to ensure that there was enough trained volunteers at each PIT Count site.
Rupchock-Shafer mentioned that some of the sites were busy the entire time while others were quiet. She added that is to be expected in a rural community the size of Marshall County.
She said the most important thing is that people were there to listen and collect valuable information in addition to raising awareness about homelessness and housing insecurity in the area.
Another reason the PIT Count was deemed a success was because of the abundance of donations that were received for the hygiene kits. Rupchock-Shafer said there were not only enough items to provide a kit to each person who participated in the PIT Count, but there were plenty of things left over that they’ll be able to distribute to vulnerable families and individuals.
During last year’s PIT Count, a major weather event had an impact on participation since some people were unable to make it to the survey sites and weren’t able to weigh in on the matter. Fortunately, there weren’t any weather issues on the PIT Count date this year so the input provided will be more indicative of what’s going on in the County.
If you’re interested in receiving assistance or learning more about how you can help address homelessness and housing insecurity locally, contact the MCCF at 574-935-5159.
