Counting the Homeless in New Bedford [TOWNSQUARE SUNDAY]

There is a significant event coming up later this month in New Bedford that has a major impact on the city's homeless population.

The annual point-in-time count is carried out by volunteers working with New Bedford's Homeless Service Providers Network. The goal is to count all of the homeless people in New Bedford, both in shelters and on the street. The numbers will be used to help the federal government determine the level the funding for homelessness programs in the city.

The 24-hour count will begin at 2 p.m. on January 29 and conclude at 2 p.m. the next day. Similar counts will be going on around the country.

Carl Alves of PAACA and Joe Maia of the New Bedford Office of Housing and Community Development joined Jim Phillips this week to discuss the logistics of the count, and why it's important for the homeless and the city. Their interview can be heard here:

Townsquare Sunday is a weekly public affairs program heard every Sunday morning at 6 a.m. on 1420 WBSM. The program highlights individuals and organizations working to improve the quality of life on the SouthCoast. Segments can also be heard on WBSM.com, the WBSM app, and on YouTube at WBSM TV.

If you have a public event, festival, or neighborhood activity you want to publicize, submit your information here. You can also send an e-mail to Jim Phillips at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com