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Sandra Averhart reports on the 2021 Point-In-Time Count of homeless individuals in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. This year, COVID affected the number of homeless and the way the count was conducted.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought about some operational changes in HUD’s 2021 Point-In-Time survey of individuals who are homeless.
WUWF recently stopped by Opening Doors Northwest Florida to check on its annual count of homeless people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“The Opening Doors foundation is excellent helping the public, I give them props. Thanks much for helping our public on that one,” said David Kowalchyk.
The 40-year-old struggling songwriter visited the Opening Doors Hub on on New Warrington Rd. Friday to pick up a hygiene packet and a meal. He says fraudulent use of his debit card left him unable to pay his rent. As a result, he’s been homeless for about four months. He’s been forced to take up a second job.