Broward Homeless Count

Broward County begins homeless census
Biennial census may settle the dispute between advocates and county government
By Lisa J. Huriash | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 30, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE - Walking around Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here., trying to stay clear of police, and panhandling money for coffee at Burger King, Normand Neunier is largely invisible most of the year.

But on Thursday, he counted.

Neunier, 56,told volunteers conducting a homeless census in Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports that his employer went out of business in November 2007, leaving him unable to pay the rent.

"I just need a job," Neunier said. "It's depressing."



To find him and the thousands of others in his situation, 244 volunteers scoured Broward's bus terminals, soup kitchens, libraries and parking lots from 4 a.m. to about 8 p.m. Thursday.

Counties must conduct a homeless survey every two years as a condition of state and federal funding. Palm Beach conducted its audit for a 24-hour period that began Wednesday. Results from both counties are not expected for several weeks.

In Broward, however, the numbers are often a source of contention.

The Coalition to End Homelessness, which conducted the audit from the late 1980s through 2007, found more than 3,300 on the street and hundreds more in shelters in its 2007 count. But county officials said the more accurate figure was 3,150.

"There were demographics that didn't look right," explained Steve Werthman, division director of Broward County's homeless initiative partnership. "One hundred percent of residents in emergency shelters were counted as chronic. Usually, it's about 15 percent, so it raised a red flag."

This year, Werthman received permission from state agencies to take over the census.

Laura Hansen, who heads the Coalition to End Homelessness, insists the county is underestimating the problem.

"Why are our numbers higher than their numbers? I'm not going to say they are doing anything wrong, but perhaps a perception there are fewer homeless people clears their consciousness somewhat," she said. "Unless we know the scope of the problem, we really are going to be handicapped in terms of addressing it."

Volunteers Pat Mantis and Eddie Copeland scoured the Riverwalk area looking for homeless. They had chocolates in their bags to give those who cooperated.

"We're conducting a survey," Mantis told a disheveled man pushing a suitcase. "Go to the Internet," he told her. "There's lots of information there."

Richard Ellis, 50, was more helpful.

He said he got behind in his rent after he lost his job moving furniture. He has only been homeless one night and spent it sleeping under a tree. "I can't stand being in this position," he said.

Neunier said he spent nearly a year at different shelters but was unable to find a new job. His only possessions are a blanket, a jacket, a change of socks, shirts and pants, and a razor he carries in a black backpack ("my house," he explains).

He uses his knapsack as a pillow. "It's a lot easier to sleep at night when you've had a couple beers," he said.He doubts the census results will help him because there's only so much money to go around. A community volunteer who used to hand out two or three sandwiches at a time to the homeless has cut back to just one, he said.

"Times are hard," Neunier said.