Three Peace River Center nurses participated in this year’s Point In Time (PIT) Count in Polk County.

“Participating in the count is important to me as there are a lot of homeless in Polk County and the counts help us get funding to care for these individuals. It is also important as we can provide information and names of services within the community to help serve these individuals,” said Jane Freeman, a nurse with Peace River Center.

The PIT count is mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be done on a single night in the month of January. The PIT Count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people who are experiencing homelessness.

“As a nurse, I took a vow to meet people where they are. Meaning, I want to understand their needs, values,  and trauma-responses. Participating in the Point In Time count provided a close and personal opportunity for me to see what people need while working with an organization that is diligently striving to meet those needs,” said Mignon Burr, Director of Nursing at Peace River Center.

This year’s count was done January 26 starting at 6 am. These nurses went into encampments, vacant fields and behind buildings to look for homeless individuals. They also found families living in their cars that were counted. The count is a survey with the homeless to express their specific needs and housing status.

“The information gathered in the Point In Time Count serves to help the community provide an underserved and sometimes misunderstood population with resources to have a better quality of life. It is important to me that all members of a community are heard and served equally,” said Stephanie Rambali, who oversees Peace River Center’s Short-Term Adult Residential Treatment (SRT) facility.

The Homeless Coalition of Polk County noted they were grateful for Peace River Center’s nurses time and dedication in this important service to our community.

Pictured are Peace River Center staff: Mignon Burr, Director of Nursing; Stephanie Rambali, Manager of Short-term Residential Treatment (SRT); and Jane Freeman, PRN nurse.