Homelessness in the Richmond area increased 11 percent from last summer, according to a count conducted last month.
According to figures released yesterday by the Richmond-based advocacy group Homeward, there were 1,061 homeless people living in metropolitan Richmond on July 23, compared with 958 on July 24, 2008.
Meanwhile, the number of homeless children increased slightly and the area's unsheltered population decreased. The homeless figures include Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, New Kent, Powhatan, Charles City and Goochland.
The number of homeless children rose to 155 from 153 last summer, and the population listed as unsheltered dropped from 146 to 135. The unsheltered include those living on the streets or in a car, but not at a shelter.
Kelly King Horne, executive director of Homeward, attributed the region's increase of homelessness to the weak economy; however, she also sees some positives in the figures.
"The good news is, the increase is primarily in sheltered individuals. They are getting access to case management, maybe treatment to recovery, connections to medical or mental-health services," Horne said. "Those are all good things. We like to see that they're connected to services. That will help them end homelessness. Ultimately, that is the point."
The homeless were counted July 23 during the weekly lunch at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond, which also included a resource fair with medical screenings, HIV testing and counseling, benefits information and free haircuts. Counts also were conducted that day in shelters, and volunteers visited areas in Richmond and surrounding counties where homeless people are likely to congregate.
More here-
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HOME11_20090810-215603/285271/
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