A one-day, point-in-time count of New Hampshire’s homeless population earlier this year found a 14 percent decrease from the same count a year prior.
The state saw its biggest declines among those temporarily living with family or a friend – down 35 percent – and homeless families – down 14 percent.
However, the number of those staying in homeless shelter remained essentially the same.
Kevin Kintner is the Program Director for New Horizons in Manchester, and says he hasn’t seen a drop in demand for services.
He says getting a truly accurate count is a challenge.
“When you do a point-in-time count, finding people is not an easy thing. They always estimate that it’s going to be at least three times the amount that you count that are out there being homeless. You’re not going to find everyone, especially those who are couch surfing.”
The count took place during the 24-hour period in late January, and found just more than 22-hundred homeless people in the state.
That’s down from nearly 26-hundred in 2013.
The count is required as part of the federal funding given to the state’s Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services.
