DENVER -
The annual survey of the Denver metro area's homeless population is now underway. 175 volunteers fanned out across seven counties Tuesday morning to begin counting people living in local motels, shelters and on the streets.
"I just really want to understand the whole homeless situation," said Elizandra Martinez, a volunteer from Regis University. "And actually being involved in seeing the people I think gives you more of a perspective and reality of how you can help and everything."
The survey has been conducted annually for the past decade, with the exception of last year. The last count revealed a homeless population of about 9,000 people in the metro area. Homeless advocates believe the bad economy could significantly boost those numbers this year.
"We've seen the number of families increase, we've seen the number of people homeless for the first time increase," said Linda Barringer, the coordinator of the Point In Time survey. "It's your neighbor. It could be your family member."
The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD distributes millions of dollars annually to cities for homeless programs. Barringer said the survey could help service providers reallocate money to areas of greater need.
"If we discover there's a lot of families that are homeless because of domestic violence, then that would tell us we need more prevention services, we need more ways to address that problem," Barringer said. "We have to do things differently and these Point In Time counts can give us information that if we use it right we can hope to end the issue of homelessness in the years to come."
Among those surveyed Tuesday was Steven Lewis, 51, of Denver. Lewis currently uses the bulk of his monthly disability payments to pay for rent at a West Colfax motel. He's hoping the survey will eventually lead to better housing options.
"If they sit there and provide more beds I wouldn't have to pay 700 dollars a month here, I don't think, and that would help and then I could save some money," said Lewis.
"I just really want to understand the whole homeless situation," said Elizandra Martinez, a volunteer from Regis University. "And actually being involved in seeing the people I think gives you more of a perspective and reality of how you can help and everything."
The survey has been conducted annually for the past decade, with the exception of last year. The last count revealed a homeless population of about 9,000 people in the metro area. Homeless advocates believe the bad economy could significantly boost those numbers this year.
"We've seen the number of families increase, we've seen the number of people homeless for the first time increase," said Linda Barringer, the coordinator of the Point In Time survey. "It's your neighbor. It could be your family member."
The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD distributes millions of dollars annually to cities for homeless programs. Barringer said the survey could help service providers reallocate money to areas of greater need.
"If we discover there's a lot of families that are homeless because of domestic violence, then that would tell us we need more prevention services, we need more ways to address that problem," Barringer said. "We have to do things differently and these Point In Time counts can give us information that if we use it right we can hope to end the issue of homelessness in the years to come."
Among those surveyed Tuesday was Steven Lewis, 51, of Denver. Lewis currently uses the bulk of his monthly disability payments to pay for rent at a West Colfax motel. He's hoping the survey will eventually lead to better housing options.
"If they sit there and provide more beds I wouldn't have to pay 700 dollars a month here, I don't think, and that would help and then I could save some money," said Lewis.
