READING, Pa. – New data from the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness shows a concerning reality: 734 people are experiencing homelessness across the county. That’s up 8% from last year.
“A lot of the count for unsheltered people is here in Reading, because that’s where the warm meals are being distributed,” said Elise McCauley, assistant director of the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness.
McCauley says that includes more than 200 people living outside.
“For the PIT (Point in Time) count, we work with shelters and homeless service providers all over the county. Friend Inc. in Kutztown, or Salvation Army in Hamburg, Boyertown. But we also do service-based counts with people,” McCauley explained.
We’re talking about children, seniors and working families. 16% are under 18, while 26% are over 55.
“If we have to pick one overarching issue, it would be the lack of affordability with housing,” McCauley said.
She says right now, it takes about $25 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Berks County.
“We get phone calls every day of people who are being evicted,” McCauley said.
She says providers are now working together on a new approach.
“We’re working right now on a Code Blue policy that all the providers have come together on. And it’s not just for Code Blue, it’s for Code Red, so it’s really a severe weather policy to make sure that people are safe,” McCauley said.
The goal is to better coordinate resources during extreme weather.
“We would always love to get donations of tents and sleeping bags. Hygiene products. First aid type kits. Flashlights are huge for people,” McCauley said.
People looking to help can find more information here: Berks Coalition to End Homelessness – Give Help