Homelessness has many faces. Right now, there are people, including families with children, living in abandoned buildings, cars, alleys, and other places not meant for human habitation. These people need the help of our community, and thePoint in Time (PIT) is the perfect opportunity to help. Racine community organizations, along with volunteers, “take to the streets” overnight to provide information and outreach on community resources, offer shelter, and give care packages to this vulnerable population.

The Federal Department of Commerce through its Housing and Urban Development (HUD) division attempts each year to determine the number of homeless not receiving services and the reasons they are living on the streets. All organizations that receive grant funding from HUD for their programs are asked to participate and to gain community help to do a more complete job or scouring their county for people in need. The Homeless Assistance Coalition of Racine County includes organizations like HALO, Women’s Resource Center, Bethany House, Vet’s Place, Safe Haven, HOPES Center, Legal Action, Racine Vocational Ministries, UW Extension, Workforce Development Center and many other groups that attempt to help the homeless to regain self-sufficiency.

This winter on the night of January 25, 2012 and into the morning of January 26, all across Wisconsin, there will be a coordinated effort to find those in need. In Racine we go out in teams, with an experienced person on each team. The teams take along water and backpacks filled with supplies and blankets to hand out to everyone we find. In previous Point in Time counts we found over 20 people including teenagers. Some will go to HALO and others will just accept the supplies. Individuals are found sleeping in cars, under bushes, in all night Laundromats and hanging out in 24 hour gas station stores. Many who go into shelter are reunited with extended family and go back into safe and stable homes. This year we would like to have a much larger group of people helping with the effort in the hopes of finding and helping even more people. If you would be willing to help on one of the three and a half hour shifts that night please contact JUSTIN KASDORF at (262) 633-3235 Ext 110 or MELISSA BECKER at (262)939-8679. You will receive more detailed information on how the night works.