HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Despite a statewide effort to curb homelessness in Kansas, the number of homeless people is beginning to rise again, including here in Reno County.

According to Shara Gonzales with New Beginnings, the agency had a total of 66 people in its three homeless housing facilities on the night of Jan. 23 during what is called the “Point in Time Count.” The number does not include the Domestic Violence shelter. Of the 66 homeless: 54 were adults, 12 were children and 16 of the 66 were disabled.

Gonzales expressed some frustration because her efforts to gather statewide and area numbers proved unfruitful.

“Last year we went to extensive effort to collect as much data as possible and submitted it in hopes of a turnaround statewide,” Gonzales said. “Nothing was ever returned to us, either by the state or the Federal Government.”

From the data she was able to gather, Gonzales feels the numbers are increasing despite a 10-year effort to get more people help.

Last year there were around 55 homeless residents in the New Beginnings shelters.