Snow, bitter cold characterize annual count of Topeka s homeless population
Wednesday was a bitterly cold day to be outside, let alone be living in a tent. Snow covered the ground, and morning wind chills were in the mid-teens.
Still, the snow s presence made it easier to find and count homeless people, said Matt Baldwin, homeless outreach case manager for Valeo Behavioral Health Care.
Baldwin teamed up with fellow Valeo employee Lisa Gaston to take part in Wednesday s annual point-in-time count of Topeka s homeless population.
Federal officials require the count to be carried out annually for Topeka to continue to receive funding for homeless-related programs, said Molly Hadfield, media relations coordinator for Topeka s city government.