Jan. 8, 2025 (updated Jan. 13)
BY JOHN BAILEY
The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) is hosting a donation drive through January to support this year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) count - a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night.
Those homeless individuals and families who participate in the count will have an opportunity to pick up items collected from the community.
The purpose of the count is to collect data that identifies gaps in services as well as barriers that prevent individuals and families from becoming successfully housed.
Last year, more than 19,000 calls were taken from across the state by the United Way of North Carolina 2-1-1 community help line asking for information about low-cost housing while more than 29,000 calls were made about shelters, according to nc.211counts.org.
In Catawba County, more than 1,100 calls for help with housing and shelter were made to 211, and again these were only calls made to the information and referral service. It does not represent the total need.
This year’s PIT count in Catawba County will be held on Jan. 30, organized by Housing Visions Continuum of Care Catawba.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that Continuums of Care (CoCs) conduct an annual count of homeless persons who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing and Safe Havens on a single night.
The results of the PIT count affect the amount of funding granted to regions in each state to support outreach programs addressing homelessness.
The last official PIT count, held in January 2024, showed 264 individuals experiencing homelessness in Catawba County (https://www.ncceh.org/datacenter/pitdata/).
You can drop off donations at the CCUW office through Jan. 28 – 2760 Tate Blvd SE, Hickory.
What to Donate (new items only):
- Winter Hats
- Hand warmers
- Gloves
- Coats
- Ponchos
- Sleeping Bags
- Backpacks
The Catawba County United Way addresses the issues of homelessness each year through its grant cycles, community outreach and collaborative efforts to explore solutions for homelessness and affordable housing.
Learn how you can help at ccunitedway.com or call 828-327-6851.