Parrish Healthcare and Community Partners Participate in National Point in Time Count Uniting to Count and Support Unsheltered Homeless Persons in North Brevard

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (February 6, 2025)—Parrish Healthcare collaborated with the Brevard Homeless Coalition, North Brevard Charities, LifePointe Ministries and Under the Bridge Ministries to help coordinate and participate in the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count.

This is part of a national annual initiative, held during the last full week in January, to gain a snapshot of homelessness and service gaps in communities across America.

In North Brevard, dozens of volunteers from the five organizations, and several other supporting local organizations, dedicated January 23-29, 2025, to this endeavor to get as accurate a count as possible. Over the course of the week-long PIT initiative:

• volunteers conducted walking surveys in the community, canvasing North Brevard to conduct a count;
• LifePointe Ministries hosted a “Sleep Easy” event in which they opened their cold night shelter, regardless of the temperature, for three nights (Jan. 23-25) and provided all attendees with breakfast lunch and dinner each day, a safe place to sleep and access to essential support services;
• North Brevard Charities played a key role in volunteer coordination and logistical support;
• Parrish Healthcare participated in the planning and coordination of the events as well as having prepared and served dinner during the Under the Bridge Ministries Monday night (Jan. 27) services.
• Jess Parrish Medical Foundation donated gift cards totaling $2,000. The gift cards were given out each night of the LifePointe Ministries Sleep Easy event and at Under the Bridge Ministries’ Monday night dinner and service.
• Rolle Insurance assisted individuals with food stamp applications, insurance applications and phone/internet services.
• Space Coast Health Centers conducted medical screenings and provided on-site mental health support, care coordinators, SOAR specialists and haircuts.
• Competent Operational Testing Group (COTG) 2021 administered free flu shots and provided additional gift cards.
• Defeat Diabetes Foundation distributed free glucose meters and supplies to diabetic individuals and offered educational resources.
• Recovery Connections of Central Florida & National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Brevard provided peer support and mental health resources throughout the event.
• Circles of Care and its Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) team provided information and support.
• Curative Care provided free HIV and Hepatitis C testing as well as bags of hygiene products.

“Accurately counting our unsheltered population is essential to understanding the full scope of the issue and ensuring that resources are allocated where they are needed most,” said Lara Chicone, Behavioral Health Navigator at Parrish Healthcare. “Without precise data, we risk underestimating the need for housing, healthcare and support services, which will leave vulnerable individuals without the help they need.”

“We understand first-hand the needs of our community and have made addressing those needs through community partnerships like this one our mission for more than 60 years serving as North Brevard’s public, community health system,” said George Mikitarian, President and CEO of Parrish Healthcare. “By conducting a triennial community health needs assessment and working together with our community partners on initiatives like the Point in Time Count, we are making a real impact, bringing immediate relief to those in need, while advocating for lasting solutions.

To learn more about Parrish Healthcare’s outreach initiatives and community impact, please visit parrishhealthcare.com/communitybenefit.