An outreach team gathers before heading out to conduct the annual Point-in-Time homeless count in Wylie. From left; Taylor Hutchinson, Jace Wiley, Bill Roberts and Jon Bailey.  Courtesy Jon Bailey

An annual count aimed at measuring homelessness in Wylie and surrounding areas identified 15 people experiencing homelessness this year, an increase from the 10 counted during last year’s effort.

The Point-in-Time Homeless Census, commonly known as the PIT count, was conducted Thursday, Jan. 22 — one day before the weather event — with volunteers gathering at The Cross Church before deploying throughout the Wylie and Lavon Lake areas. 

The PIT count is conducted nationwide each January by Housing Forward, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s designated lead agency for Dallas and Collin counties, in collaboration with the All Neighbors Coalition.

Jon Bailey, executive director of Hope for the Cities and team leader for the Wylie area count, said the number reflects only those who could be identified on the night of the count and does not represent the full scope of homelessness in the community.

“We know there are other people we didn’t see that night, so we couldn’t count them,” Bailey said, adding that even a small increase can occur quickly when families lose housing.

According to Bailey, individuals counted this year were living in cars, tents, sheds and, in one case, staying in a hotel paid for by a local organization. He said many local cases involve what is often described as situational homelessness, with causes ranging from domestic violence to job loss due to illness or unexpected vehicle repairs that force families to choose between transportation and rent.

“It’s a tough reality to a lot of families in the community living paycheck to paycheck,” Bailey said.

A total of 31 volunteers participated in the count, representing a wide range of local agencies, nonprofits and faith-based organizations. Volunteers assisted with street outreach teams, a support hub at the Hope for the Cities Resource 

Center, and the preparation and distribution of care packages that included winter clothing, blankets and sleeping bags.

Bailey said collaboration among local organizations extended beyond the count itself. Ahead of freezing temperatures earlier this winter, groups worked together to place vulnerable individuals into hotel rooms, coordinating outreach and sharing costs to ensure no one was left without shelter.

“We started to communicate with some of our homeless friends the day before it got really cold, who we knew would be in harm’s way if they didn’t get shelter,” Bailey said. “From there, we coordinated our efforts to make sure no one was missing on the list for needed to be sheltered then worked together to cover the cost of the hotel.”

“The compassion demonstrated by our community was incredible,” Bailey said. “We always want to be there for people when they need us.”

The PIT count is conducted nationwide each year and helps communities assess local needs, guide funding decisions and measure trends in homelessness. Bailey said the work done locally continues year-round and focuses not only on emergency response, but also on prevention and stabilization, including housing assistance, food support, access to health care and help with employment.

“We would all love the total number of people who are homeless to be zero, so we will keep on working,” Bailey said. “The impact of our collective efforts goes way beyond this night.”

Stay informed and support your local newspaper, subscribe to The Farmersville Times.