To the Southern Indiana Community:
Wednesday, January 23rd was a big day for our community. The Point-in-time (PIT) Count, an annual count of those experiencing homelessness, took place in Southern Indiana and across the entire state of Indiana. In the eight-county housing region, Southern Indiana residents and community partners worked to ensure its success. What shined bright was what we know to be true in Southern Indiana: community, generosity, and compassion.
Organizing the PIT Count for the first time in the eight-county region was intimidating for a relatively new organization such as the homeless coalition. Despite the challenge, from the moment the organization began talking about the PIT Count, many community partners and residents understood the importance and were committed to help.
As you may recall, Wednesday, January 23rdbegan as a windy, rainy day and ended with temperatures that called for White Flag. The News and Tribune documented the organized volunteer effort and captured the true spirit of the PIT count and what it means for this community. While volunteers were going out into soup kitchens, encampments, libraries, area businesses, and more, there was and continues to be a strong force of community partners ensuring the PIT Count’s success.
LifeSpring Health Systems, Jessica Floyd, and Nomad Ministries, Preston Searcy and Matt Fleenor, were instrumental in the planning of the PIT Count. LifeSpring lead a team in Scott County at the one-stop-shop, which included a volunteer from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Jesseca Chatman. Nomad Ministries lead a team morning, noon, and night in Clark and Floyd counties, which included volunteers from Re:Center Ministries.
The Town of Clarksville’s Town Hall served as the base for the PIT Count. The New Albany Police Department lead two volunteer teams in Floyd county that included volunteers from Volunteers of America and Center for Women and Families. Community Kitchen in Jeffersonville welcomed PIT Count teams over two days that included staff of Re:Center Ministries, White Flag volunteers, and others. Two staff members with Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Matt Rayburn and Zach Gross, were part of a team that went to Community Kitchen and traveled Clark County. The staff of the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana also joined teams in Clark and Floyd counties.
Additionally, the Haven House assisted in the PIT Count and submitted over 100 completed surveys. Barb Anderson, Haven House, also recommended sites for the volunteer teams to look for those experiencing homelessness. Madison Salvation Army recruited and lead a team in Jefferson County. The Scott County Homeless Coalition also lead a team in Scott County. Washington County Family YMCA served as the base site for volunteers in Washington County conducting the PIT Count. New Albany Salvation Army, 8thStreet Pizza, St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities, Hoosier Hills PACT, Blue River Services, and Mercy Center (Paoli, IN) also conducted the PIT Count on site.
Without the community volunteers and partners, the PIT Count would not have taken place. We are grateful that there are organizations who understand that we are stronger together and can make a true impact by collaborating. To the aforementioned groups, THANK YOU!
Thank you to all of the service providers, law enforcement officers, community volunteers, local missions, area businesses, local governments, and more who believe that the time for good is now. #soin #endhomelessness
Looking forward to many more partnerships to come.
Keeley Stingel, MPA
Executive Director
Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana
Wednesday, January 23rd was a big day for our community. The Point-in-time (PIT) Count, an annual count of those experiencing homelessness, took place in Southern Indiana and across the entire state of Indiana. In the eight-county housing region, Southern Indiana residents and community partners worked to ensure its success. What shined bright was what we know to be true in Southern Indiana: community, generosity, and compassion.
Organizing the PIT Count for the first time in the eight-county region was intimidating for a relatively new organization such as the homeless coalition. Despite the challenge, from the moment the organization began talking about the PIT Count, many community partners and residents understood the importance and were committed to help.
As you may recall, Wednesday, January 23rdbegan as a windy, rainy day and ended with temperatures that called for White Flag. The News and Tribune documented the organized volunteer effort and captured the true spirit of the PIT count and what it means for this community. While volunteers were going out into soup kitchens, encampments, libraries, area businesses, and more, there was and continues to be a strong force of community partners ensuring the PIT Count’s success.
LifeSpring Health Systems, Jessica Floyd, and Nomad Ministries, Preston Searcy and Matt Fleenor, were instrumental in the planning of the PIT Count. LifeSpring lead a team in Scott County at the one-stop-shop, which included a volunteer from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Jesseca Chatman. Nomad Ministries lead a team morning, noon, and night in Clark and Floyd counties, which included volunteers from Re:Center Ministries.
The Town of Clarksville’s Town Hall served as the base for the PIT Count. The New Albany Police Department lead two volunteer teams in Floyd county that included volunteers from Volunteers of America and Center for Women and Families. Community Kitchen in Jeffersonville welcomed PIT Count teams over two days that included staff of Re:Center Ministries, White Flag volunteers, and others. Two staff members with Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Matt Rayburn and Zach Gross, were part of a team that went to Community Kitchen and traveled Clark County. The staff of the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana also joined teams in Clark and Floyd counties.
Additionally, the Haven House assisted in the PIT Count and submitted over 100 completed surveys. Barb Anderson, Haven House, also recommended sites for the volunteer teams to look for those experiencing homelessness. Madison Salvation Army recruited and lead a team in Jefferson County. The Scott County Homeless Coalition also lead a team in Scott County. Washington County Family YMCA served as the base site for volunteers in Washington County conducting the PIT Count. New Albany Salvation Army, 8thStreet Pizza, St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities, Hoosier Hills PACT, Blue River Services, and Mercy Center (Paoli, IN) also conducted the PIT Count on site.
Without the community volunteers and partners, the PIT Count would not have taken place. We are grateful that there are organizations who understand that we are stronger together and can make a true impact by collaborating. To the aforementioned groups, THANK YOU!
Thank you to all of the service providers, law enforcement officers, community volunteers, local missions, area businesses, local governments, and more who believe that the time for good is now. #soin #endhomelessness
Looking forward to many more partnerships to come.
Keeley Stingel, MPA
Executive Director
Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana