Wilson County Volunteers Count Homeless to Unlock Help

Volunteers in Wilson County, Tennessee, will take to the streets this Thursday to count every person experiencing homelessness, not just for data, but to make sure no neighbor goes unseen. Their work unlocks vital funding and services that could change lives.

The annual Point-in-Time count happens across America every January, but it's far from a simple headcount. Volunteers engage directly with unsheltered people, filling out detailed forms that capture their stories and needs.

"They're not just somebody that's discarded on a road, you know they're actually people, and they have a story," said Christy Wiley, a local volunteer who finds personal healing in the work.

Last year, volunteers found 73 unsheltered people in Wilson County. This year, as temperatures plunge below freezing, the count takes on added urgency while warming shelters open their doors.

The data collected directly determines how much federal funding flows to the community. More accurate counts mean more resources for shelters, services, and support programs that help people get back on their feet.

Maegan Eldridge from Wilson County Emergency Management Agency says the people they serve appreciate every bit of help. "They're very grateful. They pitch in, they help clean up, they clean up after themselves. It's been great."

The shelter operation relies entirely on volunteers, and this year's turnout has been strong. Organizers handle potentially unsafe areas themselves, making sure anyone can participate safely.

For Wiley, volunteering comes from understanding that circumstances can change in an instant. "At any given moment I could have been in that situation and I want to know that there's people out there that are willing to help those people."

The Ripple Effect

When volunteers step up for the count, they create waves of positive change far beyond one night. The federal funding their work unlocks supports everything from emergency shelters to job training programs throughout the year.

Even better, people living anywhere in America can join similar counts in their own communities. Local governments and nonprofits across the country need volunteers for their Point-in-Time efforts, turning a single night of compassion into a nationwide movement.

Community members who can't volunteer in person still help by reporting any unsheltered neighbors they know about. Every person counted represents real funding that could provide the warmth, meals, and second chances someone desperately needs.

This Thursday, Wilson County volunteers will walk their streets with clipboards and caring hearts, proving that sometimes the most powerful way to help is simply to see people and count them as they deserve to be counted.

#