The Daily Times

At an earlier point in time, 1827-1838, Charles Dickens penned a serial that roused the conscience of England and America.

His published serial — “Oliver Twist, or The Parish Boy’s Progress” — opened the eyes of many never before exposed to the back alleys of London.

From personal experience, Dickens knew of homelessness and the cruelty it inflicted on children in the Victorian Era. That’s why these words from “Oliver Twist” rang true:

“Bleak, dark, and piercing cold, it was a night for the well-housed and fed to draw round the bright fire, and thank God they were at home; and for the homeless starving wretch to lay him down and die. Many hunger-worn outcasts close their eyes in our bare streets at such times, who, let their crimes have been what they may, can hardly open them in a more bitter world.”

No wonder people were moved. Jump to 2012. Times do change. The anguish of homelessness does not.

Dickens did not need to seek out the people with no home in his community. He walked the streets and there they were.

In Blount County 2012, the homeless are almost invisible. A Point in Time Count will be conducted in the county on Jan. 26 to bring light to lives in the shadows. To deal with a problem, know the extent of the problem.

Resources are limited. The Point in Time Count is required for HUD to allocate federal funds. Groundwork is being laid. The Blount County Community Homeless Coalition has been working for months to get a handle on the homeless situation.

With help from the Tennessee Valley Coalition to End Homelessness, the coalition will have teams in the field over a 24-hour period to try to come up with an accurate number of homeless here.

Last January’s Point in Time Count tallied 72 homeless in Blount County. Could that be accurate — or even close to it? A recent check at Knoxville homeless shelters found 190 Blount Countians had been served over three months.

An accurate count of the homeless in Blount could bring up to $700,000 through HUD to deal with homelessness. The key is to put the money to work in creative and effective ways that allow homeless children and adults to contribute to our community. Give them a chance to give back.

You get your chance in two weeks. Here’s how:

If you know of people who are homeless in Blount County or who are precariously housed with family or friends because they have no place else to go, call the United Way of Blount County at 982-2251 on Jan. 26.

You can call in anonymously. You don’t have to give any names. Gender, age and where that person slept the night before are all that’s required. No one will attempt to make a personal visit.

Help bring Blount County the resources to assist those living in their cars and in culverts, on park benches and inside abandoned buildings. Help save the homeless of Blount County from the “bleak, dark, and piercing cold.”

Remember, the Point in Time Count call must be made on Jan. 26.

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