skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

AZ 2010 Homeless Count: A Sad but Significant Tally

play audio
Play

Tuesday, January 26, 2010   

PHOENIX - Some 400 volunteers will be out on the streets tonight, attempting to count the number of homeless people in central Arizona. Last year's one-night count by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) found a 20 percent increase in the homeless population, and MAG human services planner Brande Mead says a further increase is expected this year, because of the state's continuing bad economy.

"We are seeing about 30 percent of people in shelters for the first time, meaning they've never experienced homelessness before. The main reasons for their homelessness are loss of a job and just not having income."

Last year's tally counted just under 3,000 homeless Arizonans around metro Phoenix, in addition to those in shelters.

Mead says the homeless count can sometimes take an emotional toll on the volunteers. Last year, one family was found living in a wash alongside a baby's crib.

"That's one of the hardest things to do during the count, is to come across families and youth like that, that are sleeping in places that really are not meant for human habitation."

Neil Donovan, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, says the one-night count is a valuable resource, but it won't reflect a growing category of homeless people, those staying with relatives or friends temporarily, because of foreclosures and job losses.

"Right now, the indicators are much more episodic; the homeless people are going to be homeless for a month, and then they're not homeless; homeless for a month, not homeless. So, to take a snapshot on one day is not going to count the true impact of what's happening."

The annual homeless counts have been criticized for being unscientific and even political, but Donovan says they give social service groups an opportunity to find out more about the populations they serve.

The count is used by the federal government to develop housing policies and allocate money for service providers to the homeless.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021