Homeless Count In Midland Helps People On The Streets
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: January 28, 2011
MIDLAND -- Homelessness is a big problem in Midland County. And it's biigger than most people realize.
That's why the Midland Homeless Coalition conducts a point in time survey every two years to count those people who have fallen through the cracks.
A point in time survey is a way for the state to provide a snapshot of what the homeless population looks like on any given day. On Thursday, I went out with one group of volunteers to the soup kitchen in Midland and bumped into several people, who say they're just down on their luck.
"I just keep on going," says a high school graduate, who did not want to be identified. She calls a beat up red car home.
"I had nowhere to go; nowhere to stay," she adds.
She's out of a job and hardly has any family left.
"My mom disappeared; my father died," she says.
Her life is in her car. Her side mirror is about to fall off. Everything she owns is in the back of her trunk. In a crinkled plastic bag, she shows me her toiletries. She opens her back door, as if shes walking me into her bedroom.
"I'm trying to keep my head up high," she says.
It's for people like this woman that the homeless survey is conducted.
"It's a situation," said volunteer Sheree Smith. "It's not who you are. It doesn't define you. Its a situation you're in."
Sheree Smith is one of the volunteers who wants to help.
"With the wealth in Midland, it's a shame we don't have more help for the people," said Smith.
The help will be good for people like Norman Young. Young's been homeless for 14 years.
"I'm just homeless right now," said Young.
Hauling his sleeping bag around, he's one of those that could be unaccounted for.
"I just believe, i keep going everyday, something will happen," said Young.
Midland Coalition Coordinator Dale Seago is paging his volunteers throughout the day, making sure they're counting.
"The more numbers we can get back, the better off its going to be," said Seago.
The larger the number, the more money Seago can put back into programs that could help people like the girl living in her car get back on her feet.
"I want to be accounted for," said one homeless person. "I want to stand up and say something and speak up."
Volunteers told us that the biggest group they need housing for is women. The girl whose living in her car said the volunteers gave her some options that she's going to look into. Her dream is to go to college in the near future.
Jackie Smith can be reached via e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.
That's why the Midland Homeless Coalition conducts a point in time survey every two years to count those people who have fallen through the cracks.
A point in time survey is a way for the state to provide a snapshot of what the homeless population looks like on any given day. On Thursday, I went out with one group of volunteers to the soup kitchen in Midland and bumped into several people, who say they're just down on their luck.
"I just keep on going," says a high school graduate, who did not want to be identified. She calls a beat up red car home.
"I had nowhere to go; nowhere to stay," she adds.
She's out of a job and hardly has any family left.
"My mom disappeared; my father died," she says.
Her life is in her car. Her side mirror is about to fall off. Everything she owns is in the back of her trunk. In a crinkled plastic bag, she shows me her toiletries. She opens her back door, as if shes walking me into her bedroom.
"I'm trying to keep my head up high," she says.
It's for people like this woman that the homeless survey is conducted.
"It's a situation," said volunteer Sheree Smith. "It's not who you are. It doesn't define you. Its a situation you're in."
Sheree Smith is one of the volunteers who wants to help.
"With the wealth in Midland, it's a shame we don't have more help for the people," said Smith.
The help will be good for people like Norman Young. Young's been homeless for 14 years.
"I'm just homeless right now," said Young.
Hauling his sleeping bag around, he's one of those that could be unaccounted for.
"I just believe, i keep going everyday, something will happen," said Young.
Midland Coalition Coordinator Dale Seago is paging his volunteers throughout the day, making sure they're counting.
"The more numbers we can get back, the better off its going to be," said Seago.
The larger the number, the more money Seago can put back into programs that could help people like the girl living in her car get back on her feet.
"I want to be accounted for," said one homeless person. "I want to stand up and say something and speak up."
Volunteers told us that the biggest group they need housing for is women. The girl whose living in her car said the volunteers gave her some options that she's going to look into. Her dream is to go to college in the near future.
Jackie Smith can be reached via e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.
