NORWICH – The Chenango Housing Council has long recognized the existence of homelessness in the area and is now taking bigger steps than ever to address the issue.

On Feb. 27, the Chenango Housing Council – an agency that addresses substandard housing and homelessness in the area – conducted a county-wide survey of the homeless to identify the number of county residents in need of a place to live, and to improve on local services to help.

The agency invited the homeless to call and share their stories or complete a paper survey that was distributed by participating nonprofit agencies, including the Chenango County Department of Social Services and volunteers for the SUNY Morrisville Human Services Organization.

According to CHC Chair Judy Wingate-Wade, the survey will assist the organization in developing a homeless shelter in Chenango County and more efficient solutions to the issue of homelessness. Surveys are a requirement to receive assistance from federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs.

“We have seen problems in recent weeks with ways to keep people out of the cold,” said Wingate-Wade. “This survey serves as a snapshot of our community so that we can hopefully help with some of these problems.”