On a cold evening in January, volunteers in Excelsior Springs undertook the critical task of conducting the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count, an initiative crucial for understanding the scope of homelessness in the region. This year’s count, occurring on January 24, 2024, is part of a broader effort spanning the 101 Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care counties, following guidelines by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The PIT Count, mandated by HUD to be conducted biennially during winter, aims to provide a snapshot of the homeless population, capturing data on both sheltered and unsheltered individuals. However, the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care goes a step further, conducting an annual count to better monitor trends and needs. In 2022, the count identified 1,571 homeless individuals, with 520 unsheltered, within the 10 Regions of the MO BoS CoC.
This year’s count in Excelsior Springs, led by dedicated volunteers including Shantele Frie, Garry Ward, Bobby Warner, Kelly Anderson, Mark Donovan, and Dana Jonas, involved visits to over 25 city locations. Despite evidence of abandoned camps and outdoor stays, the teams found only 2 individuals in a makeshift shelter. The final results of the survey will be available on March 1, following a week of service counts.
Beyond the PIT Count, Excelsior Springs School District maintains its count of students experiencing or at risk of homelessness, in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This federal mandate ensures educational rights for children and youth in homelessness, defining the condition as lacking “fixed, regular, and adequate” housing. Situations qualifying as homelessness include living in motels, shelters, cars, parks, or doubled-up with friends or relatives due to housing loss or unsafe conditions.
School Social Worker Kim Curtis highlighted the district’s ongoing efforts to identify McKinney Vento students, a number currently at approximately 90 and expected to rise. The identification process, renewed annually, involves careful evaluation of each case, recognizing that circumstances like living with friends or relatives do not automatically classify a student as McKinney-Vento.
The PIT Count and the school district’s initiatives are essential tools in addressing homelessness, providing data to tailor support and interventions for those in need. As these efforts continue, Excelsior Springs demonstrates its commitment to understanding and alleviating homelessness within its community.
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