Volunteers counting area homeless as part of Homeless Census

Volunteers spent hours conducting a homeless count early Thursday morning as part of this year’s Homeless Census.

Deployment groups met in Salinas and Marina and spread out across the Central Coast to get an idea how many homeless individuals are in the area.

KION crews caught up with those helping out in Salinas and were told the Homeless Census determines how much state or federal funding comes over to the Central Coast to help with programs designed to help the homeless.

Organizers say there’s some margin of error, however, as they did a head-count at some local shelters the night prior to the actual census day.

“We’ve been in communication with the shelters,” says Program Manager James Connery. “We cover those areas before shelters open and release to avoid any issues.”

One of the more recent Homeless Census surveys found Monterey County’s homeless population had grown between 2015 and 2017 by 23 percent.

Another aspect which Census organizers feel is helpful to the project is assigning volunteers with members of the homeless community who are also helping with the survey.

“They’re the core of our project and they make up the teams that cover these areas,” says Connery.

Volunteers so far have cited the lack of affordable housing as the primary issue facing those who are homeless.