CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Everybody Counts Charlotte: Point-in-Time Count is more than just collecting data, volunteers meet with those who are unsheltered and homeless face-to-face and can get them connected to resources.
More than 200 volunteers make this event happen every year.
It is co-led each year by Mecklenburg County Community Services and Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte.
Groups of volunteers met at two "hubs" Thursday morning, one in Uptown and another in Pineville, before going out to various neighborhoods and districts.
People experiencing homelessness are not always hiding in encampments -- many are just walking around, sitting on a bench or outside of businesses in the early morning hours. Volunteers offered people breakfast and coffee and spoke with them about their situations.
Volunteers told WCNC Charlotte many of the individuals they spoke with expressed frustration with housing affordability and a lack of mental health resources. They also said the Point-in-Time count highlights these issues, and puts a face to the people affected by them the most.
"I think a lot of people have opinions or thoughts about people experiencing homelessness but so few people get to actually meet them," Noah Brierton, a volunteer group lead, said.
"100% of the people we spoke with are created in the image of God," Liz Clasen-Kelly, another volunteer lead, said. "They are fully human and there were a lot of human moments this morning."
The groups that went out Thursday morning wrapped up their part by 8 a.m. More volunteer groups in the afternoon will bring in those final numbers.
The Point-in-Time Count is a vital way to bring in federal funding to get people experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County connected to the programs and services they need.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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