Those sleeping in abandoned buildings, on public benches and street corners will be invited to warm locations in Warren and Hunterdon Counties on Wednesday. In Northampton County, volunteers will spread out into the neighborhoods and offer homeless supplies.
Volunteers will provide the area's homeless with food, coats and advice Wednesday in exchange for information.
“And the very first question is, ‘Where will you sleep tonight?” said Candy Brewster with the Warren County Department of Human Services.
Those sleeping in abandoned buildings, on public benches and street corners will be invited to warm locations in Warren and Hunterdon Counties. In Northampton County, volunteers will spread out into the neighborhoods and offer homeless supplies.
Officials use Project Homeless Connect, an annual one-day event, to help develop federal and local strategies to combat homelessness. Volunteers either offer the homeless assistance on the streets or assist them as they visit one of the several designated spots in the area.
Those helped will take a survey, which consists of brief questions addressing issues such as family makeup, services needed, services currently received and length of time spent homeless or without a permanent address. Lunch, flu shots, haircuts and winter coats will be offered.
In Warren County, information on housing, emergency social service benefits, legal services, substance abuse, mental health, medical services and employment opportunities will be available. Brewster said county officials estimate there are between 200 and 300 homeless adults and children in the county this year.
“Although that’s probably an underestimate really,” she said. “Because we know that we place more people in emergency shelter than that during the course of the year.”
The count is required by federal and state law to evaluate a county’s homeless population annually for any community that received funds from homeless assistance programs. Locally, Brewster said, the information can help narrow and identify the primary needs of a county’s homeless population.
“The information, A, helps us raise awareness,” Brewster said. “And B, helps us to drive funding and planning to address the issues that we discern to be contributing to homelessness.”
In Hunterdon County, volunteers will be stationed in Flemington and Lambertville to hand out coats, toiletries, reduced prescription cards and information on other county or agency services.
During the first statewide census of the homeless in 2005, Hunterdon County did not participate. Harry Fuerstenberger with the Hunterdon County Department of Human Services said county's homeless population ranges annually from about 100 to 120.
“Most of them aren’t actually homeless. They’re living in motels, or hotels, or being put up by social services,” he said. “One of the places that they’re still homeless but they’re not on the street.”
In Northampton County, the homeless are counted in five shelters in Easton and Bethlehem. ProJeCt of Easton is coordinating services that reach out to the community, administer surveys and provide provisions to the needy.
Lori Sywensky, Northampton County's community development administrator, said Northampton’s model isn’t much different than New Jersey's
“It’s a similar concept, but we’re going to bring it to people, rather than bringing them to a particular location,” she said.
Sywensky said seven homeless people were counted last year, but officials are working on changing the effectiveness of their approach.
“We know that the prevalence of homelessness is much higher than seven people,” she said.
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Project Homeless Connect
In Warren County, officials will meet with the homeless at Sts. Philip and James’ Mercy Hall in Phillipsburg and at the United Methodist Church in Washington at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. For more information call 908-475-6080.
In Hunterdon County, services will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Fisherman’s Mark, 50 York St., Lambertville, or the Family Success Center, 3 E. Main St., Flemington. Contact Harry Fuerstenberger with the Hunterdon County Department of Human Services at 908-788-1253 for additional information.
In Northampton County, contact ProJeCt of Easton, 320 Ferry St., at 610-258-4361 to refer someone in need of assistance.