Last year, around 350 homeless individuals were identified in the count. For the past five years the overall homeless population in the area has lived within the 300 to 400-plus range. The results of this year s count will be compiled into a report to be released in March or April.
This year, Zielinski said she is expecting an increase in the unsheltered homeless population, defined as homeless persons found in places not meant for human habitation such as in cars, parks or abandoned buildings, or on the street or sidewalks. This is due to local emergency shelters having to operate at limited capacity to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Organizations work to count homeless population amid COVID-19
Organizations work to count homeless population amid COVID-19 By Kassie Simmons | January 27, 2021 at 4:58 PM EST - Updated January 27 at 5:42 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - First Fruit Ministries and the Cape Fear Council of Governments count the homeless population and work out what specific needs they may have to help change their circumstances.
“Our goal is always just creating relationships with people, giving them a connection and being able to tell their story,” said Mark Skolaski, the Outreach Director at First Fruit Ministries.
It’s a tall task as the organizations work to reach as many homeless community members as possible.
A crane lowers a tiny house into position in Wlimington, N.C. (Photo courtesy Kim Dalton)
Tom Dalton is an anesthesiologist in Wilmington, North Carolina. The voicemail greeting on his cell phone says that he is probably busy putting someone to sleep, or waking them up. Spending most of his time in hospitals, Dalton says he realized that many of the same people were returning for emergency medical care again and again. Many were chronically homeless and had a disability. After performing surgeries on some of those people, Dalton says, the hospital was releasing them to recover, as best they could, in a group shelter, or on the street. In the hospital where he works, Dalton says, chronically homeless people can be admitted 40 to 50 times a year. One man was admitted 246 times in a three-year period. Without individual housing, health problems can fester; the life expectancy for people who experience homelessness for long durations is much lower than the average. Now, Dalton and his w
Lori White loves her apartment.
Inside of the one bedroom, which came fully furnished, the walls are painted a cool blue. From her living room there’s a clear view of Greenfield Lake.
“It’s just a godsend blessing,” the 62-year-old said.
White now lives at Lakeside Reserve, an affordable housing unit with 40 apartments for chronically homeless adults with disabilities, including seniors and veterans. Residents have access to on-site case management and supportive services provided by staff from the Good Shepherd Center, an organization which provides services to the Wilmington-area’s homeless population.
Before finding out about resources offered by Good Shepherd and Lakeside Reserve, White was homeless something she never was before she came to Wilmington.