TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Homeless Coalition of the Wabash Valley hosted the annual Point In Time (PIT) Count across the region to get a better understanding of how many people are experiencing homelessness.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 750,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January of 2024. That’s an eight percent increase from 2023.
Volunteers hit the ground running Wednesday morning, in hopes of meeting the unhoused population out in the community, bringing everyday essentials, like sleeping bags, tents, and food in an effort to meet immediate needs.
Local organizations came together to participate in the 2025 PIT. It’s a nationwide effort to assess the number of individuals experiencing homelessness.
“It’s a snapshot in time, it’s a one-day count,” Kelly Fuller Chair of the Homeless Coalition of the Wabash Valley said. “So, it starts at midnight and goes through midnight,” she added.
In Vigo County, the Homeless Council of the Wabash Valley helps put on the count, and local shelters like Pathways Day Center plays a central role in the process, serving as a hub.
The PIT Count, which occurs annually in January, is crucial for helping local governments and organizations understand the scope of homelessness in their communities. The data collected guides funding decisions, policy-making, and the allocation of resources for homelessness services.
“They look at the service gaps for housing and funding to meet those needs and then as a coalition we go back and look at any other needs. Do they have hygiene needs, do they have toilet paper? Which seems like a normal thing for anyone else, but that’s like gold for people that are not housed,” Fuller said.
In Terre Haute, Reach Services Pathways hosted a full day of services alongside the count. Grace Medical was on site for screenings.
WTWO caught up with Terry Hedges who said he’s experiencing homelessness.
“I’ve been chasing housing for eight years now and it always seems like when I get closer there’s another hoop I gotta go through,” Hedges said. “It’s getting overwhelming now. I’m getting to the point where I’m tired,” he added.
The 2024 PIT Count showed a concerning rise in homelessness in the region. In Vigo County, local shelters report a significant increase in individuals seeking help, mirroring national trends.
“We’re really around 260-290 (people), when we did the count last year. I feel like we’re still going to be in that range because we saw quite a few people at the emergency warming center who were still unhoused and unsheltered. And then we’ve got the Lotus Center which will hopefully be opening soon. It’s just going to be another emergency shelter,” Fuller said.
“Terre Haute is doing as much as they can with the funding, as far as housing and homes,” Hedges said. “But I also believe there could be more done.”
The community’s collective effort Thursday is not only about counting the unhoused but also about offering a supportive, compassionate environment where individuals can access services that might otherwise be out of reach
For those interested in helping unhoused neighbors, Fuller recommends making donations or volunteering at emergency warming centers, like Pathways. Fuller said they are in the process of training volunteers to be ready to go as the need for emergency shelters arrives throughout the year. For more information or to get involved contact Reach Services, Pathways at 812-917-3287.
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