Annual census of homeless people offers insight into issue in Franklin County

Micah Walker, The Columbus Dispatch
·4 min read
Angelique Ericson, left, with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, asks Antjuan Muhammad a set of survey questions at the Broad Street United Methodist Church as part of Community Shelter Board's annual count of homeless people in Franklin County.
Angelique Ericson, left, with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, asks Antjuan Muhammad a set of survey questions at the Broad Street United Methodist Church as part of Community Shelter Board's annual count of homeless people in Franklin County.

With temperatures in the single digits Thursday morning, Martin Caldwell needed a place to stay warm.

That place ended up being Broad Street United Methodist Church in downtown Columbus. People gathered in the small gym there, some going over to a table for coffee and tea, while others sat down in folding chairs, just happy for a place to relax for a few hours.

Caldwell and many others at the church are homeless, with the gym serving as a warming center operated by the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless.

But on this day, it was serving another purpose, as volunteers with the Community Shelter Board worked on its annual countywide census of the homeless.

More than 100 volunteers canvassed streets across Franklin County, as well as in parking lots, soup kitchens, tent camps and warming centers, said Community Relations Director Sara Loken.

In addition, the Community Shelter Board's homeless management information system counted the number of people sheltered overnight on Wednesday, which was about 1,200 people Loken said.

The data will be combined with counts from service agencies and other places to arrive at the one-day homeless count.

More than 3,000 communities nationwide must submit the "point-in-time" tallies of homeless adults, teens and children every year to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which uses the information to determine funding.

This is the first time Community Shelter Board has organized the census in two years due to the pandemic, Loken said.

"Communities were really focused on trying to keep people safe and figure out how to deliver services in a different way because of the pandemic," she said. "But that's become the standard operating practice now two years in. HUD did not issue a waiver this year, so they are expecting communities to go forward with their counts, and we're happy to do it."

Loken said it's hard to say what this year's numbers will look like, but officials have seen an increase in the number of people seeking shelter. During the Jan. 2020 count, 2,036 people were counted, including 1,470 in shelters, 432 unsheltered and 134 in transitional housing.

"We've definitely seen an increased need during the pandemic," she said.

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A way to help those in need

Caldwell, 52, of the West Side, eventually made his way to a table stationed in the front of the gym. That's where Angelique Ericson, a hospitality staff member for the Columbus Coalition , asked him some questions for the survey.

"Are you Hispanic or Latino?" she said. "Is this your first time experiencing homelessness?"

Caldwell said he has been homeless for about a year. He said he was living in his car when two people stole his car as well as $3,000 from his Social Security Disability Insurance.

People who are homeless sit inside a warming station at Broad Street United Methodist Church. They were counted Thursday as pat of a "point-in-time" tally of homeless adults, teens and children that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development uses to determine funding.
People who are homeless sit inside a warming station at Broad Street United Methodist Church. They were counted Thursday as pat of a "point-in-time" tally of homeless adults, teens and children that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development uses to determine funding.

Caldwell said he mostly stays on the streets as he doesn't trust that his belongings will stay safe at a shelter. But he doesn't mind visiting the warming shelter five times a week.

"They (the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless) care for people and they help people like me," Caldwell said. "They're beautiful people."

Ericson said the warming center opened last year, and the number of people visiting the center has doubled since November. Program Coordinator Josh Posten said 379 people visited the shelter in November and December combined.

Ericson said her job is to provide access to resources for the homeless, including birth certificate referrals, clothing and showers. She also will call the homeless hotline to see if they can get into a shelter.

"I love being here for them. Some of them are friends. And being able to talk to them all the time about whatever they need," she said. "A familiar face, a smile and a warm heart goes a long way with working with other people."

Angeleila Watkins, center, and Jess Smiley, left, both community health workers with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, sort clothes for distribution while at a warming station at the Broad Street United Methodist Church.
Angeleila Watkins, center, and Jess Smiley, left, both community health workers with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, sort clothes for distribution while at a warming station at the Broad Street United Methodist Church.

Sitting by the gym wall was Eric Hughes. Next to his chair were two sweaters, a blanket and some food the coalition provided for him. A staff member later handed him a blue winter coat in an extra large.

The 55-year-old said he has been homeless for about 5 months after he and his fiancee broke up. She then died of COVID-19 two months ago. Before that, Hughes was evicted from a retirement community.

Hughes said he mostly stays at Goodale Park in Victorian Village and has been coming to the warming center since last month.

"It's rough out here," he said. "When you're out in the cold and your teeth are chattering, you can't focus."

Terré Meadows, who is homeless, was at the Broad Street United Methodist Church Thursday when the Community Shelter Board was conducting its annual count of homeless people.
Terré Meadows, who is homeless, was at the Broad Street United Methodist Church Thursday when the Community Shelter Board was conducting its annual count of homeless people.

Micah Walker is a Dispatch trending reporter. Reach her at mwalker@dispatch.com or 740-251-7199. Follow her on Twitter @micah_walker701.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Annual census offers insight into homelessness in Franklin County