2010 Cenus may miscount the homeless

TERRE HAUTE, Ind (WTHI) - Homeless may be under represented in the 2010 census because they are more difficult to count.

The Bethany House in Terre Haute houses homeless women and homeless women with children.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development could not tell News 10 how many people were homeless in Indiana on Thursday. Officials with the Vigo County Homeless coalition counted around 350 homeless during their annual homeless count in 2009.

Homeless people typically do not have a mailing address. An address is required in order to take part in the 2010 census.

"We would encourage anyone to be included in the count and help us to be able to help them," Director of the Bethany House Dottye Crippen said.

The more people counted in a particular area the more money that area could get to help fund places like the Bethany House.

"They can give back to the community in their own small way just by being counted themselves," Crippen said.

The Bethany House and Lighthouse Mission in Terre Haute will be counting the residents that live there for the Census on March 29th, 2010.

On March 30th, 2010 those that come to get a free warm meal at Light House Mission and the Bethany House will have the opportunity to be counted in the 2010 census.