Tkazyik, with Anne Saylor, Dutchess County Planning and Development, (left), and Jacki Brownstein, Executive Director of Mental Health America

POUGHKEEPSIE – The ongoing recession has raised family homelessness in Dutchess County by 200 percent. That startling figure came from the findings in a report that officials hope will start to reverse the trend.

The Corporation for AIDS Research, Education and Services, Inc. (CARES) unveiled its 10 year plan to end homelessness in Dutchess County by 2020. 

The plan, drafted by a consortium of government and civic leaders, is based on criteria such as the scope of homelessness in the county, the composition of the homeless population, identification of current resources and gaps within those resources. 

Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik believes the plan is a “positive step forward” that brings people together to discuss concerns facing the community.

CARES Director of Technical Assistance Adam Kirkman said with the current economy that there has been an increase in family homelessness of approximately 200 percent. That is a population that has really been affected by the downturn in the economy, but the plan will seek to reverse that.

“It will be a challenge, but I think that everything laid out in the plan can be accomplished,” said Kirkman. “Part of that is looking at a more effective way of spending the existing resources that are in place.”

The goals of CARES at this point are to work on homelessness prevention, which will involve increasing resources for prevention efforts, expanding the availability of safe and affordable housing in the county, increasing support services and involving the community and improving community engagement with regard to the homeless.

Kirkman feels proper targeting of resources would “go a long way toward creating a more effective homeless service system.”