Cumberland County Community Development and partner agencies are preparing to conduct the annual Point in Time Count of the local homeless population. The count will be conducted beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 29 and ending 6 p.m. Jan. 30.
The Point in Time count is not intended to be a complete census of the homeless population, but a 24-hour snapshot of the sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals on a given night. Only those persons meeting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definitions of homelessness are counted. The 2019 Point in Time count in Cumberland County recorded 329 sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families.
Volunteers and employees of participating agencies conduct the count in person by going into areas where homeless people are known to stay. Data gathered during the count will be compiled for annual report to provide the community with vital information regarding the characteristics of the homeless population in Cumberland County. The count records demographics including race, gender, age and factors including mental illness, substance abuse and disability.
Cumberland County Community Development will be joined by the City of Fayetteville Economic and Community Development and other partnering agencies from the Fayetteville/Cumberland Continuum of Care on Homelessness. Donated items such as gloves, knitted hats, and hygiene kits will be distributed to members of the homeless population during the count.
Community Development administers programs to benefit low to moderate income families and to help preserve and expand the supply of decent safe, affordable housing in Cumberland County. The office is located at 707 Executive Place, Fayetteville. For more information, go to co.cumberland.nc.us/community-dev or call 910-321-6112.