Homeless Count in NW Arkansas Revised Upward

The number of homeless people in NW Arkansas has been revised from 839 to 1,170. The 839 number was the preliminary estimate taken from a census of the homeless in January. The census was conducted for the Northwest Arkansas Housing Coalition, which planned to use the information to help its members apply for federal grants.

In addition to the 1,170 homeless, many more people are close to being homeless. Agencies that provide services to the needy see numerous examples every week of people who will soon be homeless – those who are just one paycheck away from paying the rent or those who have to choose between eating or heating.

As if that information isn’t sad enough, recent reports say NW Arkansas agencies will receive no money from HUD this year to help the homeless. More than $1.4 billion in HUD Continuum of Care grants was awarded nationwide to approximately 5,000 local programs to provide emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support to homeless individuals and families, according to a HUD press release. Not even $1 will reach NW Arkansas!

What’s wrong with this picture?

For more information, see my post of February 11, 2007 “Recent Census Estimates 839 Homeless in NW Arkansas”

http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/50430/

http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/50431/

http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=Special&storyid=182968

http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/50434/