How many people are homeless in Asheville? 2024 point-in-time count begins Jan. 30
ASHEVILLE - The city is gearing up for its annual point-in-time count, a tally of people experiencing homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County, among the only metrics the city has to measure the population.
The numbers are then used to inform resource allocation, like federal dollars dedicated to homelessness response, as well as the city and county's own local strategy, said the city's Homeless Strategy Division Manager Emily Ball.
The city is seeking volunteers for this year's count, typically held on a single night, will take place this year on the evening of Jan. 30 and in the late morning Jan. 31. The count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for all communities that receive HUD funding.
Ball provided more details at the Jan. 11 Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee meeting.
Prior to COVID, local sheltered and unsheltered counts held steady for nearly a decade, fluctuating between 500 and 600 people, before a staggering spike in 2022.
The homeless population swelled to 637 people, up 21% from 527 in 2021. Much of the growth was due to the unsheltered count, which doubled, up to 232 people from 116 the year before, mirroring nationwide trends as the pandemic exacerbated homelessness and unsheltered populations became more visible.
Unsheltered homelessness refers to people sleeping outside or in places not meant for human habitation, such as outdoors, in a tent, car or abandoned building.
Results from Asheville's 2023 count, held in January of that year, found a decline in the amount of people experiencing homelessness — 402 sheltered, 171 unsheltered, for a total of 573 — but still higher than pre-pandemic counts.
The number of people experiencing homelessness outside of shelters dropped 26% from the year before, but was 163% higher than before the pandemic.
HUD released its 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report in December. The report compiles point-in-time data from across the country and is presented to Congress to inform federal strategy on its homelessness response, particularly as it relates to resource allocation.
The report's findings were striking: the 2023 count was the highest number of people reported as experiencing homelessness on a single night since reporting began in 2007. Experiences of homelessness increased nationwide across all household types. Between 2022 and 2023, it rose 12%, or by roughly 70,650 people.
“What we’re seeing in our community is indicative of what we’re seeing across the country," Ball said, noting increased need as the city attempts to bounce back from the pandemic and as housing costs continue to "escalate dramatically."
What will this year's count look like?
This year, Ball said, things will look a little bit different at the annual count. The plan is three-pronged:
The traditional street count: teams of volunteers will canvass across the community in teams of two. Each group will have a designated area. This year a count will be held both the evening of Jan. 30, as is typical, as well as the morning of Jan. 31. Both counts will cover the same geography.
Targeted encampment outreach: Outreach professionals will go directly to camp locations they are familiar with.
A daytime count at AHOPE and Haywood Street and, for the first time, at ABCCM, an area nonprofit.
Lacy Hoyle, Buncombe County's homelessness program manager, is working with staff to identify unhoused people staying in rural areas across the county, rather than having a largely downtown-centric count.
With a more "comprehensive effort" than has been done in the past, Ball said this may result in larger numbers of homeless people being found. There's "no great way" to measure what is methodology improvements and what is increased needs, she said, "but we want this data to be as accurate as possible."
HIAC Chair David Nash said he understood that some unhoused people were reluctant to participate, but "it is important to view it as an opportunity to have your voice heard."
"It is a time for you to speak up and say, ‘this where I am, this is why I am here and this is what the community needs to focus on to make a difference.’"
How to volunteer
Anyone interested in volunteering on one or both days of the count can find more information on the city website: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/news/the-city-of-asheville-seeks-volunteers-for-the-annual-point-in-time-count-jan-30-2024/.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024: Street Teams
Launch from Haywood Street
Volunteers gather at 3:30 p.m.
Count occurs from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Teams of 2 include one person with experience and one person newer to the PIT count or homeless services
Teams focus on high-traffic areas and corridors
20 coverage areas
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Launch from Stephens-Lee Community Center
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Street teams cover same geographic areas as night prior
Service Locations
ABCCM Crisis Ministries (Downtown, North, South, Hominy Valley, 10am-2pm)
AHOPE (8 a.m. – 11 a.m.)
Haywood Street Congregation (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry
Campsite outreach: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Led by outreach professionals
In other news
HIAC itself is in the midst of a massive overhaul. The committee is the governing board of the Asheville-Buncombe County Continuum of Care, a planning body of people who work together to build and oversee a coordinated response to homelessness. It's a framework overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It's also necessary to become eligible for certain federal dollars.
Restructuring this system was the No. 1 priority recommendation contained in a report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, delivered to the city in January 2023.
Alliance consultants told local representatives they had never seen a structure like Asheville's. Its membership body was never formalized, and its governing body, HIAC, is composed entirely of city and county appointees.
The city, in its role as CoC lead agency, is currently accepting membership forms from any and all community stakeholders, which includes service providers, funders, advocates, government, community members and businesses. From there, the body will establish a new board, with committees of experts appointed to make and implement plans, evaluate performance, pursue and allocate funding, and develop an effective homeless service system under the board's direction.
As of Jan. 11, there are 93 individual members and 22 organizational members, Ball said. The announcement drew applause from the room. Forms can found online: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/community-economic-development/homeless-initiative/.
Per the current timeline, membership orientation is slated for February. At the first membership meeting, members will vote on the new CoC charter, begin the board process and, ultimately, elect a board. From there, the city will dissolve HIAC.
HIAC will next meet Feb. 8.
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Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How many people are homeless in Asheville? 2024 count begins Jan. 30
