On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Collin County Homeless Coalition will conduct the 2014 Homeless Census in coordination with the Dallas Metro area. It’s part of a nationwide count required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The results will determine funding to support programs and resources to assist the homeless. The information will enable the Coalition to raise awareness about homeless issues and find solutions that will enable people to be safely housed. To volunteer, go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4FA8AD2CA13-2014.
Since 2005, the City of Plano has taken the lead in working with our neighboring cities: Allen, Frisco and McKinney, along with nonprofits, advocates and interested citizens. The Coalition is part of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance.
Last year’s count revealed:
- 423 homeless individuals were represented in the Collin County surveys in 2013.
- 36% of the homeless individuals were children.
- 145 adults reported being homeless for more than 1 year, which was a 37% increase from 2012.
- Within Collin County, five ISD’s identified a total of 1,812 homeless children enrolled in school on the day of the Count who were not represented on the surveys.
- The top three needs were Dental Care, Permanent Housing, and Medical Care.
In November, the Coalition promoted National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week with several activities. In their Street Awareness campaign, they displayed cardboard signs stereotypically associated with the homeless. However, these signs offered facts about Collin County’s homeless.
Stacy Brown, Chair of the Collin County Homeless Coalition said, “Each homeless person needs to do a survey, so we can help them get back into a home and find them better jobs. Last year 57 percent of Collin County’s homeless were employed, but their jobs didn’t pay enough for them to make ends meet.”
To become involved in the Coalition’s effort, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/collinchomeless or visit their website at http://collincountyhomelesscoalition.com/.
