BARNSTABLE – The Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness has released its 2017 findings from the Annual Point in Time count.
The count took place on January 24 on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
The total number of homeless persons (adults and children) on the night of the count was 324, a decrease of 70 persons from the 2016 count, and lower than the counts since 2012 (range of 356 to 395).
“We’re very happy to report that there’s less folks in shelter and less folks on the street,” said Regional Network Coordinator Paula Schnepp.
However, the 2017 count documented that the number of families in shelter (69) is at the high end of the five-year range (55 to 69).
During this period, the number of children in sheltered families has increased from 77 in 2012 to 100 in 2017.
Among unsheltered adults, males exceeded females by a factor of at least 3:1.
Still, Schnepp feel that the community is headed in the right direction.
“I think the fact that there’s been an increased focus among the entire community to address this issue, has been incredibly helpful,” said Schnepp. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing that drop in the unsheltered population and individuals.”
Point in Time (PIT) counts cover all people experiencing homelessness in emergency shelters, transitional housing, motels, on the street, in cars, abandoned buildings, and in other places not meant for human habitation.
The Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness is a broad based public private partnership committed to identifying and implementing solutions to ending homelessness on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
