Homeless population increases in region

Nearly 700 people in the region were identified as homeless during an annual 24-hour “point in time” count in late January. Thats a 20% increase over last year. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development required count showed 687 homeless people during the so-called “PIT count” Jan. 23 and 24. The data also showed 70 children under 18 were homeless, compared to 33 a year earlier. Officials say some of the increase may be due to more effective counting, and are expecting the number of homeless to increase after the recent evictions at the West Side Inn in Kingsport.