Video: Homeless Count Begins Across the State

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UNDATED, Miss. (WCBI)-This week Mississippi United to End Homelessness and its partners will conduct a count to capture the number of homeless people in the area.

Homeless advocates across the nation will be counting the homeless so that they can determine what services are needed and how funding will be distributed. The point-in-time count will include 82 counties throughout Mississippi. The counted will include those in transitional or emergency shelters as well as those who don’t have housing. Program Director Ledger Parker says they’ll be offering assistance as they count.

“We’re hoping that each homeless person that’s interviewed will be given a gift. If they’re unsheltered it’ll be a care package with all sorts of goods that will help them out on the street. For those that are sheltered, they’ll receive a usb key drive and it’s loaded down with important documents such as how to get identification, how to apply for benefits, how to get a job, how to get job training,” says Parker.

The homeless count started throughout the state Tuesday morning and will end Saturday at midnight.