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Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘We're exactly where we were at 2016': New data shows backslide in local homelessness rates
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — Homelessness remains a persistent issue in Columbus. This year's Point in Time count data showed an 11% increase in homelessness since last year. In January, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley's Home For Good Program paired up with SafeHouse Ministries to conduct the 2025 count. It aims to track unhoused individuals in shelters and on the street. 'We're exactly where we were at 2016. And those increases we've only seen in the last three years,' said Pat Frey, Vice President of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. 'That's a little scary, that in three years we negated, what, five years of work?' 2025 Point in Time count continues, volunteers offer help to unhoused locals Columbus homelessness hit its lowest rate since 2016 back in 2021, with about 240 individuals counted. That number rose in 2022 and 2023, hitting a brief plateau in 2024, but rising once again in 2025. This year, more than homeless 300 individuals were recorded in the Point in Time count. Frey says the number one reason listed by newly homeless individuals interviewed for the count was a rent versus salary disparity. 'Rent has gone up three to four times more than their salary has,' Frey said. 'We've seen a 50-plus percent increase in rent since 2020 and the income just has not kept up.' Nearly 83% of those counted in this year's Point in Time were newly homeless. Persons are not counted as 'chronically homeless' until they have been homeless for at least 12 months, or for 12 months out of the past three years. 2024 data shows decrease in veteran homelessness, some say it's not that simple Frey hopes the community will come together to create long-term solutions to the complicated local homelessness issue. 'I think for all of us is as just community members [we] have to take a look at root causes and be willing to invest a little more time,' Frey said. 'Unfortunately, time means money, to get to those root causes and not look at, 'oh, we we accomplished this many numbers,' but I would rather have so much more success and less recidivism than have great numbers.' More than 15% of the local homeless population were children. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2025 Point in Time count continues, volunteers offer help to unhoused locals
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The 2025 Point in Time count to determine Columbus' homeless population continued today. Each year, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley's Home for Good program pairs up with volunteers from SafeHouse Ministries for the count. It is an effort to record the local unhoused population in shelters and on the street. For one SafeHouse Ministries employee who volunteered to assist with this year's count, it was a chance to give back to a community she knows personally. 'I used to be out here on the street. I used to do drugs. I used to hang out with these people and party with them,' Cassandra Whitney said. 'God restored my life and took my drug addiction and made me whole again, so I'm just giving back to the community as they gave to me.' Teen author donates copies of book to local children's hospital Whitney has been off the streets for two years now, becoming a SafeHouse employee about a year ago, but she spent five years homeless. She spent the morning of Jan. 29 talking to local unhoused individuals with her group to find out their needs and offer blankets, socks, coats, food items and hygiene products. They also shared information about resources individuals could contact for help getting back on their feet. Those include organizations like SafeHouse and United Way, or reaching out to individuals like Sam Lewis, a case manager with SafeHouse and local thrift shop owner. 'We try to get them on to 2-1-1 where they can get some shelter if they want, you know. But in the meantime, I do help them and use them down here at my thrift shop,' Lewis, who owns Thrifty Giving and More, said. Two Columbus State ROTC cadets rank among nation's top 10 individually Lewis, a reverend who also preaches at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, offers individuals food, clothing and supplies from his store. He also gives them the opportunity to help out around the store as they work to better their situations. 'I try to supply what I can,' said Lewis. One individual who was waiting outside to help at the thrift shop said he had been homeless for seven years. He added the work opportunity and assistance from organizations like SafeHouse has been a blessing. 'It helps me, you know, be clean once I get access to water to clean myself up, you know,' said Bobby White, who received a drawstring bag filled with supplies from Point in Time counters. 'New socks and underwear, you know, make me feel better.' The 2025 Point in Time count ends Jan. 30, but unhoused individuals can receive help from organizations like United Way and SafeHouse year-round. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
