FARMINGTON -- The numbers of individuals and families considered homeless continues on the upswing in Davis County. For many people, that may seem hard to fathom, since there aren't the street corners filled with people who look homeless, or those carrying signs asking for work or other help. However, those numbers keep rising, says Sharon Anderson, executive director of the Family Connection Center (FCC). That non-profit agency operates a transitional homeless program. Last year, 152 people were assisted through its motel voucher program alone, said Tara Montgomery, the FCC's homeless program director. Typically on that program people stay one or two weeks in a motel, until they can "get on their feet" enough to make other arrangements.

"That's actually a decrease, because we had less funding than before," Anderson said. Thanks to a $15,000 grant from the state Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), it will be possible to assist more people this year, she said.

The numbers of homeless were at the center of discussion Tuesday afternoon during a meeting of the Davis County Homeless Coordinating Committee, chaired by County Commissioner Alan Hansen.

Other indicators of the problem include 535 people falling under an "unmet" category. That means children and families waiting for services, as yet unmet, Anderson said.

Added to that is the booming population served by Safe Harbor, the shelter for abused women and children. Director Kay Card said 380 women and 395 children were served last year, plus seven men housed off-site.

They logged just under 8,000 hours of care, a "huge increase." That compared to about 4,300 hours three years ago.

Beyond that, there were nearly 400 non-sheltered clients who received assistance, and 581 group sessions held for 1,720 children, teaching ways to deal with abuse and violence in their lives.

All of the above numbers don't account for county residents who might be housed in shelters in Salt Lake City or Ogden, Anderson said.

"I think there is a need for it," she said of a Davis County homeless shelter. "We do need to start thinking about it."

Davis County agencies, including FCC and Davis Behavioral Health (DBH), among others, "have done very well" over the last few years in receiving federal Housing & Urban Development funds to assist in fighting homelessness, Anderson said.

For example, Safe Harbor received $450,000 to assist with constructing a transitional housing facility that opened about two years ago. DBH also received funds for a 10-bed chronic homeless shelter, and FCC money for its transitional housing program.

"We have also been able to show that Davis County has a larger need than almost anyone else but Weber," outside of Salt Lake County and the Utah County-area, Anderson said.

She disputed a survey done in January to determine how many homeless there are in the county. "I think during the summer we have a lot more who sleep outside, or in parks. In the middle of January is not going to be reflective of the total numbers for the whole year."

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com