An App to combat homelessness is Macon-Bibb County new approach to fighting homelessness in the county. While many people are still battling homelessness in Macon-Bibb County technology is allowing the county to reach and serve those experiencing housing insecurity.
What created the Need for an App
“We’re heading towards a more data-informed and accurate number,” Jake Hall said at a coalition meeting Thursday. Hall is the executive director of United Way’s “Unite to End Homelessness” initiative and head of the homeless coalition. “We’re getting closer to confirming what we’ve collectively known: there are more than 140 unsheltered people out there.”
From Jan. 22-29, teams of volunteers, firefighters, public health employees, code enforcement officers, and others conducted 195 interviews. They also documented 194 observations and noted 75 structural observations, including tarps, tents, and people living in cars.
Hall explained that the count “does not capture housing-insecure families or families often considered homeless.” This category includes individuals living in hotel rooms.
“Our gross number, based on data, is likely around 654,” Hall said.
The tally of unhoused people, known as a point-in-time count (PIT count), is an annual requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These counts enable funding for Continuum of Care programs, which are partnerships between nonprofits and state and local governments.
Why an App to Combat Homelessness
“It’s like SeeClickFix for homelessness,” Hall said of the future app, likening it to the online reporting system the county uses to receive complaints and notices from residents about issues ranging from potholes to illegal trash dumping.
“I think once we get our sea legs under us for this being a common service tool for multiple providers, then we can take that next step in really rolling out a more public facing thing,” he said. “In an ideal setting, it would be a quick way to score whether someone needs stabilization services, shelter services, or rapid rehousing or permanent supportive housing, which are where our community service supports come in.”