Twenty-four volunteers spent a full day searching the area for homeless people on Wednesday and found none, other than those already reported by organizations and agencies that provide shelter in the area.
“The count was, I guess, what we would have expected,” said Duane Dreiling, executive director of the United Way of the Flint Hills, whose organization led the count here. “Of course, our shelters did do their self-reporting. ...
“We did have one gentleman that did self-report that he was in a situation that did qualify as unsheltered-homeless.”
The count, done in 40 Kansas counties including Lyon and Greenwood, was a one-day “snapshot” of homelessness in the selected areas, sponsored by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation and the disability and behavioral health services division of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Dreiling trained 31 volunteers on Tuesday and ended up with 24 workers divided into 12 two-person teams for the actual count on Wednesday.
“We did have a very good response from the Emporia State University sociology department and the economics department,” Dreiling said.
The information from Wednesday has been sent to Wichita, where the data will be collected and analyzed, with results expected to be released in the spring.
Because the local shelters, such as Plumb Place, Emporia Rescue Mission and domestic violence shelters, reported their own figures, Dreiling said he did not have access to those totals.
He added that people who are homeless and others who need assistance about resources available, may dial 211 to reach a statewide resource and referral line that will help put them in touch with the appropriate authorities.