Austin-Travis County's homeless number in the thousands. They live outdoors, on the streets, and in cars. They sleep in shelters, under bridges, and in homeless camps.
It is estimated that 4,000 homeless people live in the Austin area.
Sunday afternoon city leaders will count the number of homeless individuals and families to see if more people are flocking to the Capital City. They need volunteers to help.
“We're doing a call out,” Austin City Council member Laura Morrison said. "Last I heard, we needed 100 more volunteers.”
Morrison joined members from non-profit agencies Friday afternoon to underscore the importance of the homeless count. She participated in last year's count.
"I got an opportunity to meet a few folks," she said. "It definitely gives you a broader picture of what the city of Austin is."
Ed McHorse is the chairman of ECHO or Ending Community Homelessness Coalition. He says volunteering will help put a different face on Austin's homeless.
“This is really a chance to find out who are the homeless in Austin,” McHorse said. “It's not just people you see in your normal daily routines.”
The annual count is an important tool in the community's efforts to assess the number of homeless men, women and children in our area. The results of the count will help ensure that vital federal and state money continues to come into the community to fight homelessness.
"We're going to find out the details about what the population looks like, what their needs are, what they receive, and what they need to receive," said Rick Rivera, chair of the Travis County Homeless Count.
If you would like to help volunteer you can call (512) 782-8733 or click here.
