GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – A homeless count conducted in July found 556 people experiencing homelessness in Brown County, according to new data released Thursday. Of those, 206 are living outside on the streets and 350 are living in shelters.
Freedom House Ministries and other local organizations and volunteers organized the count on July 22 to better understand the needs of people experiencing homelessness in the county.
Who was counted
Here is a closer look at the demographics:
- 12+ individuals over the age of 65
- 33 are between the ages of 55 and 65
- 36 are between the ages of 33 and 44
- 11 families
Jennifer Schmohe, executive director of Freedom House Ministries, said the number of older adults living on the street raises questions about how organizations are reaching that population.
“I think it’s concerning because the services for that age population are available but they are clearly not seeking those services and that they are living on the street,” Schmohe said. “So, we question, ‘how are we engaging with them. What do we need to be doing differently in the community to respond to what their needs are.’”
Why the count matters
Schmohe said the count is used both to understand community needs and to support funding decisions…