January 28, 2020
Media Contacts:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
Rose Burton, Administrator, Howard County DCRS Office of Community Partnerships, 410-313-5958
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and staff members from the County’s Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) will join community volunteers to conduct the agency’s annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count on Tuesday, January 28 from 3:00 p.m. to midnight. Teams will canvass pre-defined trails throughout major areas of the county to locate individuals who are living in non-habitable locations like outdoor areas and cars, and those in emergency shelters and motels.
“This Point in Time count is critical component to helping determine the scale of the problem as we map out a long-term strategy to eliminate homelessness in our community," said Ball. "With the support of our community stakeholders, completing the annual count enables us to identify our most vulnerable residents, develop a supportive network, and ultimately help them attain the security of permanent housing to live safer and healthier lives.”
This year’s count coincides with the release of the second edition of the Howard County ‘Path Home’ five-year strategic plan, an outline of homelessness data and recommendations compiled to make housing inaccessibility rare and non-occurring countywide.
WHO:
Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive
Jacqueline R. Scott, Director of Howard County DCRS
Community and Staff Volunteers
WHAT:
Annual Point-In-Time Homelessness Count
WHEN:
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 3:00 to Midnight
WHERE:
Staging will take place at 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD