OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Working collectively to help the community’s most vulnerable.
Government leaders, nonprofits, business owners, and the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership met with the Office of Homelessness Prevention on July 30 to address homelessness in Marion County. The discussion centered on the accuracy of homelessness data and how it impacts local efforts.
Examining the PIT Count
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Point-in-Time (PIT) count was reviewed in detail at the group’s second meeting. At the first meeting on July 9, participants explored whether Florida should change its definition of homelessness used in the PIT count.
Miles McConico of Veterans Helping Veterans USA noted that HUD updated its definition in 2009 during the recession, expanding it to reflect broader needs under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act…