Apr
29
Advocates are planning two events in May to support the homeless in Yuba-Sutter, with the first designed to bring attention to recent data.
The Sutter-Yuba Homeless Consortium said 813 people are homeless in the area and 194 of them are children.
Results of the 2013 Point in Time annual count shows the number of homeless families more than doubled.
It found 157 families homeless, up from 71 in 2012. However, the increase is more due to a higher number of agencies participating, consortium’s board president Chaya Galicia said Friday.
“The Homeless Consortium really encourages all homeless serving agencies to participate so we have a much more accurate idea of the need,” Galicia said.
To help come up with solutions to homelessness in the area, the consortium is organizing the seventh annual Homeless Summit on May 9 at the Yuba County Government Center. The agenda includes expanding on the Point in Time numbers, along with brainstorming ways to help. The summit comes in advance of the Homeless One Stop event on May 24 at Gauche Aquatic Park.
The summit is intended to draw interest for the event.
“That’s one of the outcomes that we hope to come for — just not for the Homeless One Stop, but the Homeless Consortium and in the community,” Galicia said.
The consortium is made up of people interested in being part of the solution to homelessness in Yuba-Sutter, she said, and is in the final process of becoming a nonprofit organization.
The One Stop event will have services for the homeless, such as haircuts, food and giveaways like sleeping bags and school supplies. More than 300 people waited in line in October for the event, which is held twice a year.
“The biggest thing would be to donate,” Galicia said. “Help serve food, come check it out and see.”
CONTACT Laura van der Meer at lvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4771. Find her on Facebook at /ADlvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADlvandermeer.
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