YSS in Marshall County is required to do a point in time homeless count by the federal and state governments. Typically, that count happens in the middle of January and David Hicks, YSS Marshall County Director, says winters in Iowa make that count difficult because people seek shelter from the bitter cold.

Hicks estimates there are probably a few more than that in Marshall County as this count does not track people who are couch surfing.

YSS helped start MPACT which offers a lot of support to the homeless population in Marshalltown.  If the situation calls for it, they have found rides for homeless people to get to a shelter in Ames as there is no shelter in Marshall County.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB