HUD and VA joined Tampa - Hillsborough County Point in Time Homeless Count

Volunteers prepare for deployment at the Tampa Hillsborough County Point in Time Homeless Count.

Felicia Crosby-Rucker from the Tampa Hillsborough County Homeless Initiative with HUD's Ellis Henry, Director of Public Housing in the Jacksonville Office, and Alesia Scott-Ford, Field Office Director in Jacksonville.

Hundreds of volunteers walked the streets, alleys, and wooded areas of Hillsborough County to locate, count and survey homeless people. Data obtained during a 24-hour period last February helps community planners gain a better understanding through demographic information of who is homelessness, why and for how long.

The 2016 Point in Time homeless count was organized by the Tampa Hillsborough County Homeless Initiative, under the leadership of Antoinette Triplett and Felicia Crosby-Rucker. The activity was supported by Continuum of Care providers, law enforcement, social services organizations, city and county staff, and business and community members.

This year, representatives from HUD and the U.S. Veteran Affairs (VA) joined the February 25th activities. HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public and Indian Housing Lourdes Castro-Ramirez, Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. and Jacksonville Field Office Director Alesia Scott-Ford, canvassed the streets along with VA Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning Linda Swartz.

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