Anecdotal evidence appears to indicate the number of homeless people in Jefferson City is increasing, even before volunteers fanned out this week for the annual Point in Time Count, Salvation Army Capt. Justin Windell said.
The count is an effort to count homeless population throughout the United States. Included in the effort is a tally within Missouri's rural 101 counties, including Cole County. Federal officials use the homeless population census to determine where programs are provided.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the counts during the last 10 days of January during odd-numbered years.
The rural counties (called the Balance of the State) have elected to conduct the counts annually to better track trends and needs of people experiencing homelessness.
The Cole County effort, which happened Wednesday, was based at The Salvation Army of Jefferson City. In addition to The Salvation Army, it included folks from the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service, Pathways (Compass Health Network) and others.
The local Salvation Army operates a 31-bed shelter at its Center of Hope, 927 Jefferson St.
The shelter has remained at capacity since a tornado raked through eastern Jefferson City in May.
And the shelter, which offers food daily, is producing thousands of meals.
"We served about 2,500 more meals throughout the year in 2019 than 2018," Windell said. "We're now actually serving in shifts. We serve residents first, then we open it up to the community."
The shelter served about 26,000 meals in fiscal year 2017, 25,200 in 2018 and 27,500 in 2019.
During a 20th anniversary celebration last year - which occurred a week before the tornado - staff said the center had provided 256,000 "bed nights" in two decades. Bed nights include stays in the shelter and use of "cold cots" or "hot cots," in which it can offer additional beds because of emergency conditions - with overnight temperatures forecast to be dangerously cold or hot.
This winter has seen a high number of cold nights, with temperatures forecast below 34 degrees Fahrenheit, the threshold for opening the cots in winter.
The shelter is averaging about 20 cold cots (above the 31 full shelter beds) nightly, Windell said.
Volunteers fanned out across Cole County early Wednesday afternoon, traveling to places where homeless people are known to congregate, Windell said. They went to areas near The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Walmart East, Missouri River Regional Library, abandoned homes along Jackson Street (which were affected by the tornado), places where folks are known to panhandle and other sites.
The count was 90 last year, Windell said, an increase of about 2 percent from the previous year. He said it would not be surprising if the number reached 100 Wednesday.
Volunteers are fanning out in shifts. They approach suspected homeless people - if it appears safe - and ask them questions and record the responses.
"Our biggest opening question," Windell said, "is, 'Where did you sleep last night?' If it's a family, do they have people over 18? How many are under 18?"