Group reports 155 'at-risk' homeless living in county

Phil Kramer (left), project manager of 180/180, and Martina O'Sullivan, director for community engagement for Dominican Hospital, spearhead a fundraiser Friday at the Community Foundation in Aptos to help tackle the problem of homelessness. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula).

APTOS — About 155 chronically homeless people in Santa Cruz County are at a high risk of death, the local 180/180 group announced during its meeting at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County on Friday in front of an audience of about 80 people.

Based on a survey of 325 homeless people by more than 150 volunteers, 47 percent of those 325 people are determined to be "at-risk." The group determined those who were at-risk are at least six months homeless and suffering from "mortality risk identifiers" such as AIDS, liver disease and other life-threatening illnesses.

The surveys were taken during "Registry Week," from May 7-9.

"All of us were sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to hear back," said Phil Kramer, project manager of 180/180.

For the complete article see the 05-12-2012 issue.

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