On Thursday, Jan. 25, 50 volunteers gathered throughout the day at First Presbyterian Church in San Marcos and worked in three-hour shifts to locate and count Hays County’s homeless population. The count was conducted by the Hays County Homeless Coalition. The official Points in Time Count hosts were Patsy Ann Reed, PIT Count Planning Team Coordinator, and Nancy Heinz, PIT Reed Co-Coordinator. The team consisted of a driver, a spotter to help move around the assigned area, and one driver. Or two surveyors,” Heinz said. “Researchers used the Counting Us mobile app on their phones to meet and complete the survey with people who were willing to participate.”
She added: “Each team was given a notebook with information about their assigned area, map and proposed location.” Additionally, each team was given a 90-minute training session before their PIT count.
A complete data report from the Texas Homeless Network is expected to arrive in late March or early April. This data will be the official homelessness data for Hays County in 2024. Organizations can use this data to support grant applications and requests for other funding and support services. The tally will take place across the United States during the same week in January.
“Volunteers on the research team were able to choose from several donated supplies to distribute to those involved,” Reed said. These essentials included a string bag containing toiletries, protein snacks, water bottles, mylar blankets, socks, hats, gloves, scarves, and packed lunches. The homeless were also invited to a hot lunch provided by Nattie Brown HEB at the Southside Community Center, with dessert donated by volunteers from First Baptist Church of San Marcos.
The red identification vests were hand-sewn and donated by the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SMUUF) Sewing Guild. Hot coffee and giant cookies to fuel the volunteer research team before setting off on his three-hour shift were donated by SMUUF member Kyle Mylius, owner of The Coffee Bar and The Root Cellar.
Mr. Reed would like to thank all the other donors who have contributed to the success of this PIT count of the homeless population. The Salvation Army, Hays County Food Bank, Wesley Chapel AME Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Deborah Carter and San Marcos Public Library, Community Engagement Doug Mudd and Pastor Joshua Sutherlan of First Presbyterian Church of San Marcos.
Article provided by Hays County Homeless Coalition. For more information, contact Jeannie Lewis of the Homeless Coalition Organizing Committee at jeannie@centurytel.net or (512) 353-2872.
