The homeless population in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District has increased 12 percent? during the past year, with an increase of 109 percent in the number of children reported homeless, according to census results released by the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless this week.
According to the results, 231 adults and their 46 dependent children were reported homeless by shelters in the City of Charlottesville and surrounding areas when the census was taken in January.
This is the sixth year a homelessness census has been issued by TJACH and other service organizations in the area, said Jeffrey Cornelius, homeless management information systems administrator of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. It is known as a "point-in-time count," where shelters and relief organizations count the number of homeless individuals in their facility at the same time, Cornelius said.
The pressures of inflation and the rising costs of housing in the area are short-term catastrophes that have strongly contributed to this year's increase in homelessness, Cornelius said, noting that many people went to the streets because they had been evicted or had lost their jobs.
"The state of the economy generally has reduced availability of employment," he said, noting, as a result, "the people on the bottom edge of affordability are the ones who are going homeless."
According to the census, such short-term catastrophes are much more common than chronic homelessness, which is usually characterized by people who have more complicated problems and require a more intensive intervention by a third party to get them back on their feet, Cornelius said.
Cornelius noted the majority of the homeless people surveyed were native to the Charlottesville area. As a result, members of the community have developed several resources for these homeless individuals, including programs organized through TJACH, which serves as an umbrella organization and database resource center for other area programs, Cornelius said, such as People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry, Public Housing Authorities and the Salvation Army.
Garret Trent, a second-year College student and a program director for the Hoos against Hunger and Homelessness program at Madison House, has worked with PACEM, which provides temporary food and shelter for homeless people across the Charlottesville area, he said. Students have the chance to help the homeless and simply "be a friend," Trent said.
"It's important for students to treat homeless people just as people," he said.
Read More
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | 4 hours agoMany students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
U.Va.’s Finals Weekend spotlights the achievement and service of the Class of 2025
By Leigh Bailey | YesterdayIn University President Jim Ryan’s welcome address, he acknowledged the support of family members and friends present in the audience and beyond that played supportive roles in these graduates’ lives.
Students reflect on the election of first American pope
By Bertie Azqueta | 2 days agoCatholic students on Grounds expressed surprise about Leo’s election.
