Homelessness Down In Montgomery County 37 Percent: Officials

NORRISTOWN, PA — Homelessness has dropped around 37 percent since 2013, according to one study by Montgomery County officials. That's since the launch of Your Way Home, a county program that aims to reduce homelessness, in early 2014.

A survey done on Jan. 31 found 291 individuals sleeping outdoors or in one of the county's emergency shelters. Around 20 of those individuals were sleeping outside, a number that officials said has not changed much in recent years.

Your Way Home's goal is to reduce homelessness in the county by helping individuals find housing and then connecting them to the services necessary to maintain their status.

“Your Way Home’s success in reducing homelessness demonstrates the impact of what we can achieve when nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and the community work together towards a shared vision. Our initiative is successful because of the collective work that all of our partners have done over the last four years to more effectively respond to the crisis of homelessness,” Emma Hertz, Administrator for the Office of Housing and Community Development, said in a statement.

Homelessness has slowly, but steadily, decreased in the state and nation since 2013, as well. The national rate has fallen 6.4 percent, while the state rate has dropped by 5.4 percent.

Image via Shutterstock