CHAMBERSBURG – Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed the week of Nov. 16-22 to be Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. In doing so, the commissioners are encouraging residents to gain a better understanding of the many reasons why people are hungry and homeless and how community support can make a difference.
“November is a time we associate with gathering with loved ones around a large table filled with food in a safe, warm home, but that’s not the case for many Americans, including some in our own community,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “Food and shelter are essential to everyone’s safety, overall physical health and emotional well-being. Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week draws attention to the needs within our own communities and what we can do for those experiencing hunger and homelessness.”
A number of factors have contributed to an increase in hunger and homelessness across the country. The rising costs of everyday basic services and goods, stagnant wages and the end of pandemic-era aid like rental assistance have resulted in a critical shortage of affordable housing and strained household budgets, increasing living expenses and leaving less money for food, county officials said..
As of September, more than 19,000 Franklin County residents were receiving food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Local food pantries, and other organizations serve approximately 3,700 individuals each month. Nationally, an estimated 44 million Americans are at risk of suffering from hunger.
Homelessness is also present in Franklin County. Through October, 119 heads of household had called Franklin County’s Community Connections Housing Access Center or PA 211 to complete a homeless assessment. A ‘head of household’ is defined as the individual making the phone call and does not account for anyone else, such as a spouse or children, who may be included in the assessment. The October 2025 figure is down from the 131 heads of household phone calls received in the same period in 2024.
Though the number of calls for assessments has decreased, Franklin County has seen an increase in unsheltered individuals during its 2025 seasonal Point In Time (PIT) homeless counts. A PIT homeless count, conducted locally by Franklin County’s community connections staff and coordinated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a single-night, annual census of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in a community. Data from the survey is then used to track trends and inform federal funding and policy for homelessness initiatives. Franklin County’s 2025 winter PIT count included 25 unsheltered individuals compared to 13 in 2024; the 2025 summer survey included 34 unsheltered individuals compared to 22 in 2024.
By recognizing Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the Franklin County Commissioners are encouraging community support for those experiencing hunger and homelessness as well as for homeless assistance and prevention programs, rapid rehousing and community support services through acts of volunteerism and donations.
A number of organizations across Franklin County are committed to sheltering and providing supportive services as well as meals and food supplies to those experiencing homelessness. South Central Community Action Programs, Waynesboro Community and Human Services, New Hope Shelter, Women in Need and the Salvation Army are just some of the many nonprofit organizations available to local residents. Healthy Franklin County provides a list of resources, including emergency food locations, on its website, healthyfranklincounty.org.
Information on services and resources are also available by contacting the Franklin County Community Connections Housing Access Center at 717-261-3893, the Franklin County Human Services Resources office at 717-261-2561 or by calling or texting PA 211.
