The Tennessee Valley to End Homelessness Coalition will conduct a street and shelter count of homeless individuals in Monroe County on Thursday, Jan. 28, as part of the 2010 Point in Time County Coordinated by the U.S. Department of HUD.

During last year's count, more than 3,500 homeless individuals were counted in East Tennessee. Many times homeless individuals or families are living in inadequate housing, some families may be facing eviction, some are in over crowded housing and other families may be living in substandard housing. The annual Point-In-Time Count is used to determine local allocations of federal and state funds to address housing subsidies, emergency grants and provide services to poor and homeless individuals and families.

Volunteers are needed to assist with performing the count throughout different areas in Monroe County. For more information about ways you can help with this 2010 Point-In-Time count, call Barbara Raper at Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority at (423) 442-3983.