There are more homeless people in Maricopa County this year than last according to an annual survey. More than 5,700 homeless people were counted, many living on the street.
That’s about 100 more homeless people than last year, according to what’s known as the Point-In-Time Homeless Count. The count was done in late January, but its results were recently released by the Maricopa Association of Governments. The study found that most of the county’s homeless are in shelters, but more than 1,600 live on the street, including a handful with children.
The majority of the homeless are male and white, with African Americans making up the second largest percentage.
The homeless count is meant to help local governments and non-profits better understand how to address the needs of the homeless population.
