Kenneth Koontz, Project Cornerstone Supportive Services Counselor and Cleveland B., Project Cornerstone Program Participant

Last week, Samaritan Ministries participated in the Annual Point-in-Time Count in partnership with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Continuum of Care (COC).

Point-in-Time Count happens annually on the last Wednesday of January all over the country.  The community comes together to survey our brothers, sisters, and families experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. The information helps capture data on the number of people who are homeless along with challenges they are facing.  We also give individuals an opportunity to share their suggestions for the City and County to improve services.  The Point-in-Time Count is a required activity for the Continuum of Care (CoC) to receive federal homelessness funding assistance from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

This year, Samaritan staff and the men of Project Cornerstone stepped into the community to help survey individuals.  Staff also completed special surveys with all shelter guests and on Thursday interviewed Soup Kitchen guests who had slept outside the night before.  The information collected is used to help provide a more accurate reflection of homelessness in Forsyth County and to help our community plan for services to help our neighbors in need.

Learn more about the Point-in-Time Count and Housing Inventory Count – Click here.