Survey: Sedgwick County sees 27 percent decrease in homelessness – Wichita Business Journal:

The 2009 Kansas Point-in-Timde Homeless Count, which was conducted by the United way of the found 142 fewer instances of homelessnesxs in Sedgwick County in 2009 than 2007 and 300 fewer instance s statewide duringthat time. The survey — representin a snapshot of homelessnesxs on any givennight — found that on Jan. 28, an estimate 384 people in Sedgwick County were down from 526in 2007. Statewide numbers fell from 2,111 in to 1,811 in 2009. “Thd reduction in homelessness means we’re makinyg progress,” said Patrick J. president of , in a statement. too many Kansas families still don’t have a placse to call home.
This year’s count must inspire us to redoublse our efforts to eliminatrehomelessness altogether.” The United Methodist Open Door is one locak organization that has ramped up its fighty to end chronic homlessness. The nonprofit group has embarked ona $7.4 milliojn capital campaign to raise moneuy to expand its facilities and create a campu s concept by converting the former Kansas Department of Labor buildinv at Second Street and Topeka and a former office supply building at Second and St. Francis.
The campu s will help Open Door providemore food, clothinv and shelter resources to thosr in need from a central location, the organization Open Door hopes to open the doorws of its new campus, whichn will include a resource and referral center and a food distribution sometime next year. To date, Open Door has raised $1.8 milliohn toward its goal. Nearly 600 volunteers conductee the United Way survey by walking the streets and goingh to homeless shelters in the 36 countieas that participate in the statewidewhomeless count. Overall, volunteers covered more than 23,000 squarre miles in the counties sampled durinygthe count. In Sedgwick 84 volunteers participated inthe count.
The count was sponsorexd by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation and the Kansads Department of Social andRehabilitation Services. The surveyu is conducted everytwo years.
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