The Annual Homeless Count to be done on January 28 in Minnesota

FARGO — The region’s annual homeless count is coming up at the end of the month, and organizers say the numbers are likely to rise again this year.

That goes not just for the most visible, metro-based members of the area homeless population, but for those living in rural areas, as well.

The count encompasses communities in our parts of Minnesota, including the lakes region.

The count happens on the night of Wednesday, January 28th.

Volunteers will collect point-in-time data about the number of people staying in shelters, transitional housing, and places not designed for people to live.

In rural areas, that can mean people are living in fish houses, shacks, and other overlooked locations.

Living unhoused in rural areas has some of the same problems metro-area homeless people face, like exposure to the elements, hunger, and anything other than emergency room health care.

Rural unhoused people often struggle with transportation to and from services, such traveling to the grocery store or to clinics.

Organizers Meagan Hernandez and Chandler Esslinger joined the Morning Show to talk about why the annual count is so important and what’s missing in our region that could cut down on the number of people out on the streets.

For more information:

https://www.fmhomeless.org/state-of-homelessness