NEWS RELEASE
March 30, 2000

Contacts:
Barbara Poppe, Executive Director, Community Shelter Board (221-9195)
Nina Lewis, HIV/Housing Coordinator, Columbus Health Department (645-7419)

 

Local Partnerships Ensure Successful Outdoor Homeless Count for Census 2000

COLUMBUS, OH— On March 29, census enumerators across the country visited the "street" homeless to count them for Census 2000. In Columbus, nearly 150 homeless men and women stepped forth to be counted as local non-profits, government and businesses joined efforts to make sure everyone counts in Census 2000.

As part of the "Targeted Non-Sheltered Outdoor Locations (TNSOL)" operation, the Columbus Health Department and Stowe Baptist Center encouraged census participation among the city’s "street" homeless through the provision of food, clothing, hygiene products and other goods and services.

"This operation is a perfect example of the success that can occur when private, non-profit and government sectors combine forces for the betterment of the community," said Nina Lewis, HIV/Housing Coordinator for the Columbus Health Department and volunteer coordinator for the event.

Traditionally, the TNSOL operation involves census enumerators identifying local outdoors sites, making advanced visits to those sites and later officially counting outdoor residents. In Columbus, local street outreach providers expressed concern about revealing site locations, and the Columbus Census offices supported the alternate method of enumeration. The local offices also supported a time change in enumeration, which was originally scheduled for early morning hours.

"The support we received in planning the event was astounding," Barbara Poppe, Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board, said. Poppe said the event would not have been such a success without the support of the local census office and the help of street outreach providers, participating sites, donors and volunteers.

Jeff Hay of the Material Assistance Program said when he heard of the event he immediately wanted to participate. His program donated enough clothing and hygiene products to serve both sites. "As a former shelter employee, I know the needs of people living on the streets. To provide someone with the basics and make sure he counts…that is something." The Greater Columbus Hotel and Motel Association, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and Kroger also participated, supplying food for the event.

As for those who were counted, they will reap the benefits of their participation. Every year, millions of dollars in funding for homeless services are appropriated as a result of the census. "We only get one shot every ten years," Poppe said. "We don’t want to have to wait another decade."

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