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Council reports progress on homelessness committee; Point-in-Time count scheduled Jan. 22
Summary
Council members said the new ad hoc homelessness committee heard updates on rapid shelter and pallet housing programs and urged volunteer support for the Jan. 22 Point-in-Time count to gather unsheltered population data.
At the Jan. 7 meeting, Columbia City Council members reported the first meeting of the ad hoc homelessness committee and said staff provided updates on the city’s rapid shelter and pallet housing programs.
Council reported that the programs are "trending in the right direction" and that the committee will focus on using data from the national Point-in-Time count to identify service gaps. The Point-in-Time count is scheduled for Jan. 22 and council members called for volunteers to help conduct the survey.
Why it matters: the Point-in-Time count produces the unsheltered population data local governments and service providers use to plan shelter, housing and outreach resources. Accurate counts affect where services are directed and funding priorities.
Committee details and next steps
- Committee membership and presentation: Council members said the ad hoc committee includes Councilwoman Aditi Bussell and Councilman Tyler Bailey and that Kamisha Hepart, identified in the meeting as the city’s director of homeless services, provided the update on rapid shelter and pallet housing efforts.
- Data and timing: The council characterized the information shared by staff as eye-opening and trending positively; councilmembers emphasized that the Jan. 22 Point-in-Time count is an "all-hands-on-deck" effort to produce accurate unsheltered counts.
- Volunteer and public outreach: Council encouraged community members to volunteer and said the city will provide details on how to participate. Staff indicated the Point-in-Time data will guide subsequent service planning.
What the public said
Resident Diane Wiley used the public-input period to thank council members and said she planned to volunteer; she described collecting supplies such as diapers to distribute to people in need and asked staff to follow up on a local corner issue she mentioned during public comment.
Ending: The committee will continue meeting; staff and volunteers will carry out the Jan. 22 Point-in-Time count, and council indicated it will use the results to identify service gaps and next steps.
