It is more than just a snapshot of the homeless problem in Kern County. A count is underway to find out just how many people are living on the streets or in shelters in Kern County. The hope is to bring more money to our area to help people get back on their feet again.
"It's very hard to be homeless because you don't want to be homeless. You want to have somewhere to go. You want to live in your own house, in your own bed," said Ronnah Owens who is staying at the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
Owens has been staying at the Homeless Center for four days. "My husband has Valley Fever here. He was in Mercy Hospital for five months. And I couldn't keep going back from Fresno to Bakersfield, because I had no money and I'm disabled," she explained.
But just how many people like Owens are out there? A new census count will soon tell us how many homeless people call Kern County home. The count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing. The process began Wednesday night, with volunteers interviewing people at the Homeless Center.
"We know that the last two times that we've counted, we've had about 1,500 people that we've counted that are homeless," said Jim Wheeler, Census Coordinator.
More than half were living on the streets and one out of every ten, was a child. The number is likely to increase this year. "The number has been very consistent over the last three times that we've counted and so we're interested in finding out what it's going to be like this time because of the economy," he continued.
The final tally will help justify requests for $3.5 million a year in federal funding to help better serve those like Owens, who have fallen on hard times. The money will provide them with food and transitional housing, and hopefully one day a job.
"Everybody didn't be homeless because they want to be homeless. People had good jobs and homes. They've been taken from them and it ain't their fault," said Owens.
Volunteers will hit the streets before the sun comes up early Thursday morning. They will count how many homeless people are living in alleys, cars and empty buildings. Results from the county are expected to be released in 30 days.
