PORT JERVIS – A survey of homeless individuals was taken across America last week as part of a mission to create quality affordable homes for all. While surveys are still being tallied, including in Orange County, one of the county’s cities – Port Jervis – reported a total of 21 individuals surveyed.
Jack Austin, Port Jervis’ coordinator for the annual Housing and Urban Development Point in Time Count (PIT), conducted the city’s count with Orange County veteran Andy Finnegan.
“They in turn transfer that data back to the states and municipalities so that it is of great use locally as well. It does impact funding that the federal and state governments release to the various municipalities, so it has that effect as well,” he said. “But it really gives the government a much better handle on who the homeless are and what their conditions are.”
Austin reported 15 men and 6 women as having been surveyed at various locations during the city’s counts. Those spoken with included some who regularly spend nights at the Port Jervis warming station, where Austin is also a coordinator. He and others routinely assist the homeless through the warming station throughout the cold months.
While on Port Jervis’ city-wide count, a wide age range of individuals were surveyed. Ranging from their early 20s to an 81-year-old woman who was in Burger King for the count, individual backgrounds, circumstances, and future plans were also of a wide range. Several had been counted in past year counts, and others were new.
Austin, Finnegan, warming station’s staff, Port Jervis Police, and HONOR are among some of the connections available to provide information and help in finding suitable housing and ways to live independently.
“Sometimes this is just helping to replace a missing Social Security card, get counseling or medical help, apply for a job, or find an apartment. It can become overwhelming, and we try to offer support in helping them get to where they want to be,” Austin said.
Austin said the PIT count provides not only the number of homeless individuals located in a full day, but the data collected helps identify what groups have the biggest challenges, what problems interfere with people trying to live independently or maintain a job, and what changes occur from year to year.”
This information is then transferred from municipalities and states to give the government a better handle on who the homeless are and what their conditions are.
Port Jervis’ PIT count was taken as part of the Continuum of Care services provided by HONOR, a service organization for Orange County. The count was conducted with Port Jervis Police Department officers who routinely check on the area’s homeless and know their typical locations and habits.
“It’s just a matter of respect and dignity,” Finnigan said. “Not everybody wants help, but they are human beings that are not always treated the way they should be. There are resources that can help, and that’s what we try to find out by talking to them. What do they want, and what can we do to help?”
