Missouri State has begun a new summer program to count and interview area homeless people.

While the basic premise is a good one (get students meeting new people, impact the world, raise awareness of homelessness), one has to wonder at the idea of counting homeless. Isn't that a little pretentious? Preppy college students wandering the streets, clipboard in hand, counting the homeless. How does that help them? I understand getting them food, clothes, job training, medical care...but counting? I only hope the counting exercise can lead to the others. That is what these people really need. Not another number.