YAKIMA, Wash.-- The Homeless Network of Yakima
County held their third annual "Project Homeless Connect" event
today.
It brings homeless people together with
community services. The event also provided medical
screenings, haircuts, and hot food.
The network also conducted their "Point
in Time" survey. It helps them better understand the needs
of local homeless people every year. They say the economy has made it
especially hard to find housing.
"The costs, the apartment costs have
went up, making it less affordable for people to get into. Also, there's been a
number of funding cuts for various programs," says Mike Murdock with the
Homeless Network.
The previous year's survey showed a big
increase in the number of homeless youth and senior citizens.
The network says this year's numbers will give them an idea if that's
part of an ongoing trend.
