(UPDATE JANUARY 15, 2026): FOR THOSE IN TANEY COUNTY. IF YOU LIVE IN A HOTEL, CAR, ETC., BRANSON OUTREACH WARRIORS NOW HAVE A SURVEY IN PLACE. WE ONLY WANT TO KNOW – AGE, GENDER, LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. (ANSWER SURVEY QUESTIONS HERE) – THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
14 DAYS FROM TODAY
Just yesterday evening Anita and I watched a clip of a Branson board meeting in which the “CHIEF OF PD” stated there are 10 “CORE” “homeless” people downtown.
Most people don’t understand what homelessness is. It ain’t just about people walking with a backpack and living on the streets, while sleeping on sidewalks and alleys.
I want you readers to know that in Branson there are a lot of families, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
***HOW SO ?***
Some of us “PO” folks are living in cars, outdoors in tents, staying in low-end motels and hotel holes, moving from place to place, “NOMADICALLY”, wandering around town. Especially during the off-season when employment has dwindled down to crumbs, and housing is too expensive or just not available. This ain’t a walk in the f-ckin park type of thing. What makes matters worse is that the people who have real rentals, in most cases, don’t want to rent to people coming from a hotel hole.
WHAT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND IS THAT MOST OFTEN LOW-END HOTEL RENTERS LIKE US WILL, AND DO PAY RENT AS SOME HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE SAME HOLES FOR YEARS. AND TO “ACHIEVE LONGEVITY” AT ONE LOCATION MEANS – “YOU PAY RENT ON TIME ” – YOU GOOD WITH THE HOUSE. – SOME “RISE” TO BE KNOWN AS THE HELP.
Just last week Anita and I were stopped by Branson PD for “OUTDATED” plates, not of our doing, (that’s another story). When the officer asked where we live, our only and truthful response was “WE ARE HOMELESS.” Because we are.
***WHAT’S NEXT***
Anita and I did a little research and “DISCOVERED” that a homeless “EVENT” will be held on January 28, 2026 in the State of Missouri. This information will be processed through (HMIS) “HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.” They will collect data that will hopefully give a better understanding as to the state of homelessness in Branson, MO.
On the night of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, through 7:00 am the following morning, the State is asking “PARTICIPATING” members to take “RECORD” of where clients spent the night. (PLEASE REVIEW DOCUMENT HERE)
I mentioned the City of Branson simply because we discovered that “ELEVATE BRANSON” is listed as (HMIS) participating agency. (MO-606 MO Balance of State) – Region 9. (VIEW AGENCY LISTS DOCUMENT)
Anita is willing to assist with gathering that count as she is aware of the many people who are not being accounted for. However, I believe that Elevate Branson should have the “MANPOWER and RESOURCES” to gather the much needed information.
The problem I’m having with this is, “it appears as though “ELEVATE” would only be “REQUIRED” to record the whereabouts of its “clients.”
As some of you may not be aware, there are many people who are “NOT” registered with “ELEVATE” and thus would not be accounted for as Elevate would have no record on file.
Also, keep in mind that many homeless people in Branson choose not to go to the “WARMING SHELTER” because the rules are too strict and most have pets. “THEREFORE WE NEED MORE THAN THE WARMING SHELTER’S INFO AS IT WON’T SUFFICE.”
***BEST OPTION FOR TRUE COUNT***
I believe that since the city has a list of “ALL” low-end hotel holes in the city of Branson, (BECAUSE THEY APPROVED THEIR EXISTENCE) it would be wise, and appropriate to have each of those entities pull from their list the night of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, through 7:00 am the following morning and “FORWARD” that information to the city. Entities, such as “Enclave” and the likes. “ALL OFFICIALS ARE AWARE OF WHAT ENTITIES WE ARE SPEAKING OF. This way you can be more honest to the public and the “STATE OF MISSOURI” as well.
So, on January 28, 2026 it is “VERY IMPORTANT” that this community relies on both the “Sheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and the Housing Inventory Count (HIC)” to understand the true scope of homelessness here in Branson, MO.
The “Sheltered PIT Count” measures how many people were staying in shelters on one specific night. It counts REAL PEOPLE, ADULTS, CHILDREN, and FAMILIES who had a place to sleep in an emergency or transitional shelter.
However, this count does not include people living in vehicles, motels, or outdoors, and it is limited by how many shelter beds are available.
The “Housing Inventory Count”, measures how many shelter beds and housing resources actually exist in Branson and Taney County. It shows the community’s capacity to respond, not the level of need.
Utilized together, they reveal an important truth:
A low shelter count does not mean low homelessness. In most cases it means limited shelter availability.
In a town like Branson, that thrives off a tourism based economy, where jobs are seasonal, and wages never favor low-end hotel holes housing costs, families can “LOSE” low-end housing like a thief in the night.
Most of us “PO” folk “NEVER” appear in “SHELTER” counts because there are not enough beds to serve us, the rules are too strict, or because we are “FORCED” to live in a high priced low-end hotel hole or live in our cars.
***REAL DATA MATTERS***
Without actively accumulating and processing the PIT and HIC data, Branson risk under counting homelessness, based on incomplete information.
By using both systems, it allows Branson and Taney County to:
1. Identify real gaps in shelter and housing
2. Advocate effectively for funding and resources
3. Prevent families and children from being overlooked
4. Make informed, responsible policy decisions
Homelessness in Branson is real, even if you choose not to believe. The responsibility of local officials is “NOT” to count what is simple and easy, (YOU KNOW – LIKE THE 10 CORE) but to see and understand what is really happening under the sheets.
This shit ain’t about the numbers, it’s about our LOCALS, FAMILIES, AND LONG-TERM STABILITY IN THE CITY OF BRANSON.
SO, I PROMISE YOU, ON JANUARY 28, 2026 – ANITA AND I ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTACT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND INFORM THEM THAT “WE ARE HOMELESS,” IN BRANSON AND WE SHOULD BE ADDED TO (PIT AND HMIS) SYSTEMS AS WE CURRENTLY DWELL FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL WITH LEASES.
WE ARE HUMAN TOO – EVERYONE ELSE WHO DWELL “NOMADICALLY” LIKE US SHOULD DO THE SAME.
IF YOU LOST YOUR JOB AND YOU ARE HOMELESS AND HUNGRY, PLEASE CONTACT BRANSON OUTREACH WARRIORS.
Dallas & Anita Williams,
Low-End Hotel Hole Renters
PLEASE BE SAFE EVERYONE!