Press Release

Volunteers from the Department of Social Services Assist in Point-in-Time Count

Count Creates Data of Sheltered and Unsheltered Homeless Individuals in Montgomery County

FONDA - Montgomery County’s Department of Social Services had 15 volunteers help conduct a Point-in-Time count of the community's homeless population Jan. 30.

"A team left the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center in search of any families or individuals who may be homeless along the roadways and in the towns of Canajoharie, Fort Plain, and St. Johnsville," Case Supervisor Dan Oakley said. "The weather was snowy with high winds and subzero temperatures. The team conducted a diligent search, checking rest areas, parking lots, in and around all-night convenience stores and restaurants, under overpasses, along dead-end roads, and in known abandoned buildings."

The PIT count tracks the number of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and helps determine funding and community planning as well as identifies trends or patterns in service usage, according the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Montgomery County Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael McMahon said Montgomery County is a member of the state's "Balance of State" Continuum of Care. The BoS CoC represents five counties and works to acquire funding to improve services related to homelessness. McMahon said the PIT count is a requirement when applying for HUD funding. The continuum is applying for a HUD grant that could provide $1 million to these counties. If awarded, the funds would be proportionally allocated and would be used for rapid rehousing and rental vouchers.

Before conducting the PIT count the DSS volunteers and several partner agencies held a briefing at the EOC. Volunteers formed teams and checked locations throughout the county such as rest areas, big-box stores, emergency rooms and gas stations. "We drove into numerous locations, including convenience stores, hotels, churches, industrial areas, many parking areas, dead-end streets, areas where people are known to congregate and areas that border wooded areas," Adolescent Services Unit Supervisor Robert Lennon said. "We shined flashlights along the wooded areas and rode parallel to the train tracks in Amsterdam's East End, shining flashlights there as well," he continued. "Even though some individuals seemed very cautious of strangers approaching and asking them personal questions, many said "God Bless You" or something similar, appearing to be pleased that someone was actually trying to see that people were safe on this dangerously cold evening."

Volunteers were also on call at the EOC. McMahon said volunteers had care packages available with snacks, winter garments and other personal hygiene items. No unsheltered homeless individuals were located during the PIT count. However, there were approximately 25 sheltered homeless individuals who were staying at Danielle's House or one of the four designated hotels throughout Montgomery County.

"Our goal was to do [the PIT count] safely and cover the ground we needed to cover throughout the entire county," McMahon said. "It was also to make sure we collected good data."

Long-Term Care Coordinator Theresa Cranker and her team were assigned to the northern section of Amsterdam. "Many of the people we spoke with were very grateful that we were out trying to assist people," Cranker said. "We handed out our business card with our DSS phone number and the sheriff's number for after hours," she continued. "This was a very interesting experience for all of us. I think going to different places and telling individuals we are here to help was educational for the community and it was very well received. People we spoke to were interested in what we had to say."