NEWBERRY — Not too long ago a group of leaders wondered how many homeless people there were in Newberry County.

In the last prediction of the number of homeless people in the county there was said to be two, but many people believe the number is much higher.

On Thursday volunteers will work with a statewide homeless count effort that will hopefully give the correct number of people without a home.

The Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless will be conducting a street count of the number of homeless people in the county, regions and the state.

The count is important, according to Pandora Jones, as it will determine the amount of federal funding for assistance for the homeless in the county and state.

She adds this will also take the burden of providing homes for the homeless off the backs of the taxpayers.

The county will include men, women and children living in shelters, on the streets, in institutions and places that simply are not meant for people to live in.

The volunteer efforts will last all day Thursday starting at midnight and continuing until 11:59 p.m.

Those being counted will be required to answer a sheet of survey questions and they will be given a care kit for their cooperation.

The questions only require a person give a partial social security number and name to protect their identity and prevent humiliation.

Jones is asking volunteers, churches and organizations to come count to help with the efforts.

She can be contacted by calling 321-2155 or through email at Pandora.Jones@dss.sc.gov.