There are likely at least 400 people living outside during the winter
months of 2005-6, while the shelters are all occupied to well above
safe capacity. The new YWCA Family Shelter, which provides shelter
for up to 50 families per night, is full on a nightly basis. While no one
is turned away from shelters during the coldest months, it is common
for there to be a group of homeless men sleeping in chairs in the
overflow areas. It is very hard to count the actual number of homeless
people, only a portion of whom stay in shelters. Many others stay
outside, on other people's couches and in abandoned buildings all
over town. Many of these people do not want to be found and counted
because their safety depends, in part, on remaining secret about where
they are. But we can estimate that things are worsening by looking at
the number of people accessing shelters, filling overflow options,
eating at soup kitchens and getting provisions from food pantries. The
Outreach Team of the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless reports
that they have never seen so many men, women and children living
outside in the middle of winter as they have in 2005-6.

Bill Casto 
Co-Director 
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless 
P.O. Box 16156 
Columbus, OH 43216 
Office: 614-252-3257 
Fax: 614-250-6471 
Email: billcasto@worldnet.att.net 
Working for social and economic justice for all people.