A Very Real Issue in the Fox Cities
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Point in Time
volunteers prepare to go out into the community
to get a count of the number of people who are without
housing.
Contributor: Nanci Micke, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at United Way Fox Cities
Twice per year, I head out in the dark of the night to tramp
through the wooded areas in our parks, climb under the sides of
bridges, walk through parking lots and check out storage units. I
do this as a volunteer for the Point in Time Survey - a study
conducted to help determine the number of people in our community
who are homeless. The survey is done at the same time each year,
all across the country, to provide a benchmark on the state of
homelessness in each community.
As volunteers, we go through training to know what we are looking
for and how to respond if we find anyone who needs help. This past
summer, we found a spot in the woods that had remnants of a fire
ring, hammock style bed and sitting area. It makes the issue of
homelessness very real to see the replacement "home" that has been
fashioned when a traditional home is no longer available.
We also heard the story of a family that had been staying at a
long-term motel, but was ousted because higher rates could be
charged for guests attending a local event. We talked to a family
living in their car with pets, waiting for an available apartment.
As volunteers, we have new appreciation for how blessed we are to
have a roof over our heads, and how a few cruel twists of fate
could change our lives. When I crawled into my own bed at 3:00
a.m., it was with a prayer for those who do not have the same
comfort.
Please consider volunteering for the January or July Point in Time
count. The Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley and
the Members of the Fox Cities Housing Coalition organize
the count each year. Volunteers go out in teams and always have a
team leader that is experienced. You will be impressed with the
efficiency of the project, and, it will also provide a different
perspective on an issue that is very real in the Fox Cities. For
more information on the Point in Time Survey, please
contact Chris Lashock, Client Services Coordinator (chrislashock@esfv.org) or Beth
Servais, Volunteer & Special Events Coordinator (bethservais@esfv.org) at the
Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley.