Rates of unhoused people rising in Dartmouth

The number of people who are unhoused in Dartmouth has increased to around 23 people according to Matthew Dansereau, who does outreach and community engagement for the Council on Aging. 

The federal government requires that each town get a count in January, known as the “Point in Time" study, which found about 14 people who are unhoused. Dansereau knows many people tend to go to the warming centers during the colder months, Dartmouth voluntarily does another count in July. 

This later count found 18 people, and 5 encampments that Dansereau knows are usually inhabited. 

This number does not include people who are unhoused but not living in encampments in Dartmouth, such as people who stay with family or friends, living in motels, living with multiple other people in small apartments, or travel between the Dartmouth and New Bedford borders. 

“The face of homelessness has kind of changed,” said Dansereau. 

The recent count found that those who are unhoused are between ages 19 and 70, with the most common ages being 18 to 24. Many are couples, and there’s been an increase of those who are 60+ living outside. 

Dansereau emphasized that help is available in town, with options such as reaching out to the Dartmouth Police or the Youth Advocate.