How many homeless live in South Jersey? These volunteers will help find out

Last year, there were 10,211 homeless individuals in New Jersey, according to last year's count.

VINELAND -- There is a saying in the world of advocacy for the homeless: Data equals dollars.

"If you don't know how many people you have then you can't request funding or if they don't see the demand then they don't think you need funding," said Diane Strozyk, director of the division of homeless for Cumberland County.

Strozyk helped organize a training workshop held Wednesday at Cumberland County College for volunteers from South Jersey for the upcoming Point-In-Time Count of the Homeless.

Last year, there were 10,211 homeless individuals in New Jersey, according to last year's count. There were 201 homeless in Cumberland County, 548 in Atlantic County, 611 in Camden County, 120 in Gloucester County, 38 in Salem County and 157 in Cape May County.

NJ Counts 2016 is conducted by Monarch Housing Associates and the purpose of the count is to send volunteers around the region to areas where homeless people congregate. Once there the volunteers gather information from the homeless and send that information to Monarch Housing.

South Jersey volunteers attended a training session for the upcoming Point of Time count, where they will count the homeless population in the region. Jay Everett of Monarch Housing Associates conducted the session. The training session was at Cumberland County College on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2015. (Don E. Woods | For NJ.com)Don E. Woods | For NJ.com 

The count is scheduled for Jan. 27.

"That's the number they look at when they do their planning for funding and trying to resolve the problem," Strozyk said.

Homeless individuals are asked about their situations, how long they have been homeless, if they suffer from any mental or physical issues, and also how many people with whom they live. The count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This year, there is a focus on homeless veterans.

"Our goal is to find our brothers and sisters who are out there in the community who are homeless who may not be aware of benefits they have earned, are entitled to, and educate them and get them out of their situation," said Javier Galindo, a volunteer for the count and an outreach specialist for Veterans Multi-Service Center in Millville.

His organization operates out of South Jersey and Delaware and is helping to volunteer for the count.

According to Strozyk, there are usually 50 to 70 volunteers that help out in Cumberland County.

Volunteers from Camden, Cape May and Gloucester counties also came to Cumberland County College for training.

South Jersey volunteers attended a training session for the upcoming Point of Time count, where they will count the homeless population in the region. Jay Everett of Monarch Housing Associates conducted the session. The training session was at Cumberland County College on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2015. (Don E. Woods | For NJ.com)Don E. Woods | For NJ.com 

Another volunteer was Kathy Williamson, who works at the Cumberland County Guidance Center and helps with outreach with mental illness. This year is her fourth time doing the count. According to Williamson, doing the count helps her to meet and help the homeless and also gives volunteers a chance to learn their plight.

"You think about yourself being out in the woods and you have nowhere to go," she said. "You've been evicted from an apartment or a rooming house and you have nowhere to go -- nowhere. You're out in a wooded area or an abandoned building and you have nothing -- no food, no money, no clothing, anything. What quality of life would that be for you if you were out there like that?"

Cynthia Cooke, a volunteer who works with the Millville Code Blue Initiative has one plan to try and help the homeless.

"If I hit the lottery, we wouldn't have any homeless here in Cumberland County," she said.

Strozyk is also collecting pocketbooks and totes to donate to homeless women. For more information about donating handbags or about the Point-In-Time Count, contact Strozyk by calling 856-453-2171 or emailing dianest@co.cumberland.nj.us.