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 / Modified jan 4, 2021 5:55 p.m.

Virus fears halt Arizona county's annual homeless count

Federal government allows opt out
by Associated Press

Homeless man santa rita A man sits on the curb at Santa Rita Park in Tucson.
AZPM Staff

Agencies helping the homeless in Arizona’s largest county say the annual count of people living on the streets has been cancelled this year because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

The Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care includes shelters and other services for homeless people. It says the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed it to opt out of the January 2021 count.

The Maricopa Association of Governments last week announced it cancelled the outdoors count and face to face interviews amid a surge in reported COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations.

Last year's effort counted 3,767 homeless people in Maricopa County.

MORE: Arizona, Coronavirus, News
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