By TYRONE LINDSEY
Executive Director
Ahoskie Housing Authority

AHOSKIE – It was a brisk winter evening in downtown Ahoskie. Despite the nearly freezing temperatures, several volunteers gathered on Main Street to participate in the Annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count.

To kick off the evening, the group gained some helpful tips from Tremaine Kwasikpui, the PIT Coordinator, on how to search for the homeless throughout Hertford County.

The PIT Count is a statewide count of the homeless population, which will give a “snapshot” of the homeless population living in shelters and on the street on a single night during January. It also documents those living in transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and those fleeing domestic violence. The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the count to determine local funding needs.

Last year, state officials counted a total homeless population of 3,537, including 641 living on the streets, according to the North Carolina Council to End Homelessness Agency. This same agency is responsible for approving local plans submitted by smaller counties throughout the state.

Recently, the Hertford County Regional Committee to End Homelessness received the stamp of approval for their plan, which authorized the committee to access Federal funds to fight homelessness. Eligible uses of the funds include providing programs and services that target the homeless, and building shelters and supportive housing.

According to the North Carolina Council to End Homelessness, more than $6.5 million is available for the 2016 funding cycle.

“We are very excited that Raleigh approved our plan to participate, as a regional committee, under the auspices of the North Carolina Balance of State”, said Tyrone Lindsey, chairman and co-founder of the Hertford County Regional Committee to End Homelessness. “We hope that our success will inspire surrounding counties like Northampton, Bertie, Gates, Martin, Washington, and Hyde Counties to join us in this fight.”

Last week, before the actual street count, committee members met at the Ahoskie Housing Authority to prepare care bags and review strategies for counting the homeless. Vidant Healthcare and First Baptist Church Ahoskie provided personal care items, gloves and socks for the bags that would be distributed to the homeless living on the streets. Pat Byrd stressed the importance of making sure that each bag included all items donated.

Harold Todd Herman, 47, said he was glad that an effort is being made to help the homeless.

“I know that local politics don’t support a shelter, because they think that it will bring more homeless people to the area,” said Harold, a homeless resident of Memorial Drive for the past 10 years.

On the evening of the count, when volunteers drove around Ahoskie counting those usually unaccounted for, they found Harold at a local restaurant. When asked about his current living circumstances, Harold explained, “I’ll rather stay on the streets of Ahoskie than go to a shelter in another county, because of the safety net provided by friends and family.”

Harold willingly answered the questions asked by volunteer Lisa Pope.

Dispelling the myth of homelessness, Harold is a married man with one son. He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Arts, worked for Durham Department of Social Services and the local CADA office.

“I just need some help to get back on track,” he said.

Lisa Pope and Latashia Newsome, social workers at HCDSS, will follow-up with Harold to connect him with services. These services will include an assessment to determine the best options for Harold, which could lead to supportive housing, and mental and physical health care services.

In Murfreesboro, Wend Futrell, (vice-chairman the Hertford County Council to End Homelessness) and an employee of CADA along with Avis Murphy of Hertford County DSS, teamed up with Police Chief Darrell Rowe and MPD Officer Tyrone Ruffin to search and account for homeless in the area. Rowe and Ruffin accompanied them to the Murfreesboro Inn. This is where two families were found living there because they simply don’t have any other place to go. Ironically, the families were employed but do not make enough money to secure housing.

Futrell and Murphy continued their search by visiting other businesses in the area, as well as, houses in the Murfreesboro, Como and Ahoskie area where others were living in transitional housing.

“I believe the impact is showing families that we care about the well-being of the citizens of Hertford County and if the government funds are provided to our area, the impact would enhance the community by aiding families in such crisis,” said Futrell.

I have taken homeless people to shelters outside of Herford County,” noted Rowe.

“We are believing that this is the start to an ending,” Futrell added.

Representatives expect to release official numbers from the statewide count next month.

“The outcome of this project is to end homelessness in Hertford County,” stressed Kwasikpui who works as the Student Activities Coordinator/Recruiter at Roanoke-Chowan Community College. “This is only the beginning, with help of the entire community we can do much more. No person should live on the streets of Hertford County, join us in the fight to end homelessness.”

To learn how you can help, contact the Ahoskie Housing Authority at 252-332-4104.