More than 75 volunteers surveyed homeless individuals for the annual Point In Time Count, led by United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley’s Home For Good program. The PIT Count is a survey of local sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and is part of a national and local effort to end homelessness.
 
“The Point In Time Count is our opportunity to discover the real needs for the community,” said Pat Frey, Executive Director of Home For Good. “The survey is a collaborative effort between Home For Good and local agencies that are working throughout Muscogee and Russell County to end homelessness,” she added.
 
On Tuesday evening, volunteers asked sheltered homeless individuals about their current living situation, families, and health issues. Volunteers visited Grace House, Trinity House, House of Mercy, and Salvation Army to conduct surveys. On Wednesday morning, volunteer teams traveled to locations where homeless individuals are known to stay, as well as a variety of service providers to survey unsheltered homeless individuals.
 
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the PIT Count to be conducted every two years, but Home For Good conducts it annually. The survey collects data that allows local agencies to better serve the homeless population. Home for Good led the 2017 Muscogee County PIT Count for the Georgia Housing Status Survey conducted every two years by Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
 
“We’re proud to support Home For Good’s efforts to guarantee a successful Point In Time Count,” said Scott Ferguson, President & CEO of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. “Home For Good is a vital program for our community, and together with other local agencies, they’re making homelessness atypical, temporary, and nonrecurring,” he added.