A twice a year count of Northwoods homelessness is taking place this week.
The Northern Wisconsin Initiative to Stop Homelessness Coalition is joining homeless coalitions around the state in completing a local count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Staff and volunteers will count persons in shelters for the night as well as persons residing on the streets, under bridges, or similar places not met for human habitation.
Executive Director of Frederick Place homeless shelter in Rhinelander, Tammy Modic says the Point In Time homeless count is done in January and again in July....
"....Organizations send people out into the communities to see if they can find any unsheltered individuals who are experiencing homelessness. If we do find someone who is homeless...we will try to talk with them, give them resources, Frederick Place might be an option for them. If we see someone but are not able to approach them we record them as a contact...."
The data will assist the community in understanding the nature of local homelessness, and engage in programs and service development, and to apply for state and federal funding. They check at local 24-hour establishments and under bridges and other structures. Modic says the public can help if they know of a person or family struggling to find shelter...
"...They can call Frederick Place, 715-369-9777 and let us know..."
." The Northern Wisconsin Initiative to Stop Homelessness (N*WISH) Coalition was established in November of 2009. This collaboration works to increase awareness and acts to promote and support ending homelessness in Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas counties.
