Amid the chill of the Boston night, Mayor Michelle Wu and over 270 volunteers took to the streets to conduct the city's 44th annual homelessness census. This vital task aims to provide a clear picture of the city's homelessness crisis to better allocate city resources, as reported by the City of Boston.
Volunteers, including city and federal officials, fanned out across 45 areas of the city to count and survey homeless individuals "after midnight." This essential data, which informs how federal grant funding is used for housing and homeless services, will now undergo a thorough analysis for precision and completeness, with the Boston government expressing their gratitude for the hard work by everyone involved.
"The Annual Point-In-Time count provides a national estimate of the men, women, and families in need of a home, many who are struggling to survive," Juana Matias, HUD New England Regional Administrator, said in a statement, highlighting the importance of the data in connecting those experiencing homelessness to housing and supportive services. The Biden-Harris administration has voiced their commitment to solving homelessness and sees this census as a stepping stone in that endeavor.
The survey included unsheltered adults and youths, those staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and individuals living outside. Items to help keep the survey participants warm were provided by the volunteers, canvassing areas such as parks and the transit system, according to their commitment to also ensure the safety and well-being of homeless individuals during the process.
Mayor Wu emphasized that the annual census is more than a headcount; it's about assessing and meeting the needs of the vulnerable. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, echoed Wu's sentiments, stating, "At BPHC, we know many of our unsheltered residents by name — and we know their situations — and I am grateful to the City and all our partners for their commitment to treating our unsheltered residents with compassion and helping them get the care they need."
Boston continues to tackle chronic and veteran homelessness with the Housing First approach, which has reshaped the delivery of services to homeless individuals. In addition, Boston agencies and partners have been redirecting more resources towards housing solutions and utilizing new technologies to match individuals with housing and services.
Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn, stated, "This important data helps guide our strategies and programs, as we focus our efforts on moving individuals off the street, out of shelter and into a permanent home." She added that while Boston's street homelessness rate is one of the lowest in the nation at around 3%, the goal remains to reduce that number to zero.
Last September, Boston put forth a grant proposal of $44 million to HUD to bolster homelessness programs in 2025. The results from this year's census are anticipated to be released in the forthcoming months, potentially influencing future funding and the direction of resources to address this persistent issue.
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