#point-in-time-count

#WeAllCount Volunteer Registration is Now Open! WeAllCount is San Diego’s annual Point-in-Time Count Starts on Friday, January 27, 2017 

More information here: http://rtfh.volunteerhub.com/events/index http://www.rtfhsd.org/pitc/ The Point-in-Time Count is a one-day, statistically reliable, unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families across the United States.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that each Continuum of Care (CoC) conduct a count at the end of January every year. Conducting a Point-in-Time Count is important for all communities. The count provides a snapshot of who is homeless on a given night. This information can be used to plan local homeless assistance systems, to tailor programs to meet existing needs, and to raise public awareness of homelessness.There are thousands of individuals and families in shelter at any time, and just as many living without shelter in San Diego County. Only by knowing who, where, and how many people are experiencing homeless can we plan and identify the resources needed to best serve the most vulnerable, and ultimately move families and individuals into permanent housing.Join us to make a difference in the lives of homeless men, women, and children throughout San Diego by taking part in the homeless census.

What happens during the WeALLCount?

A count of unsheltered individuals (on the street, in a vehicle or hand-built structure)A count of sheltered individuals ( those in shelters and transitional housing)An in-depth, personal interview  of unsheltered persons.

When is the WeALLCount?

Unsheltered Count: Friday Jan 27, 2017 (4:00 AM-7:00 AM) Sheltered Count: Same time – Completed with service/shelter providers Interview/Survey: Jan 27, 2016-Feb 1, 2017 (various dates and times)

Why We Count People

New Post has been published on http://monarchhousing.org/2012/10/22/taking-the-pit-count-data-further/

Taking the PIT Count Data Further

Using Numbers to More Effectively End Homelessness

A recent article in The Atlantic, “The Hidden Cost of Counting the Homeless,” provides researcher’s Christine Jocoy of Long Beach, California perspective on the annual counts of the homeless.

According to Jocoy, too much emphasis is placed on collecting point in time count data and not enough on actually using it. Says Jocoy,

“We know the problem exists. How often do we need to keep putting numbers towards demonstrating that it exists?”

But advocates would argue that counts are important in keeping awareness around the problem raised for the general public and public officials.

Jocoy sees a lack of evidence about how the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses the data. While cities use the data to apply for funding to keep shelters and programs to assist the homeless running, there could be more federal leadership about how the numbers can be used make local efforts to end homelessness more effective.

And lastly, Jocoy makes the case that the counts across the country recruit and use large numbers of volunteers but is there a more effective way to use volunteers that works to actually end homelessness?

The next Point in Time Count in NJ is scheduled for January 30, 2013.

New Post has been published on http://monarchhousing.org/2012/10/16/january-2013-pit-and-housing-inventory-guidance-released/

January 2013 PIT and Housing Inventory Guidance Released

CoCs Encouraged Review Changes

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has released data collection guidance for the January 2013 Point in Time (PIT) and Housing Inventory Count (HIC).

All Continuums of Care (CoC) are required to conduct a PIT Count and HIC of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons during the last ten days in January 2013. New Jersey will be holding the count on Wednesday January 30, 2013.

Among the PIT Changes are:

CoCs will be required to report on the number of persons in each household type by age category (under age 18, age 18 to 24, and over age 24). CoCs will also be required to report both the number of one-child households and the number of multi-child households in the household type “Households with Only Children.”

CoCs will no longer be required to collect and report on the number of unaccompanied children as a subpopulation. That data will now be captured in the population counts, per the paragraph above.

CoCs will be required to report on the number of sheltered and unsheltered persons in each of the following subpopulation categories: chronically homeless individuals; chronically homeless families; Veterans; severely mentally ill; chronic substance abuse; and persons with HIV/AIDS. Reporting on the number of sheltered and unsheltered victims of domestic violence will be optional.

CoCs will be required to report the number of sheltered and unsheltered female Veterans enumerated in the PIT count.

CoCs will be required to report and explain the PIT counting methodologies used for sheltered counts (survey, HMIS extrapolation, other) and unsheltered counts (public place count, service-based count, observation, interview, sampling).

It is important for CoC’s to review this guidance, as there have been changes to the PIT and HIC this year to ensure they are capturing the correct information.

New Post has been published on http://monarchhousing.org/2012/09/12/new-resource-for-effectively-counting-youth/

New Resource for Effectively Counting Youth

California Shares its Experience Via National Alliance

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and the California Homeless Youth Project recently released a resource to help communities conduct targeted counts of youth experiencing homelessness – “A Toolkit for Counting Homeless Youth.”

The toolkit includes:

Principles for successfully counting youth,

Tips on how to mobilize for support,

Elements to include during the planning phase of a count, and

Much more.

The toolkit is based upon the experiences of advocates from the Los Angeles Continuum of Care.

Post article highlights HUD Secretary's commitment to ending homelessness

In an article based on an interview with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan that appeared in The Washington Post last week, Donovan explains how he was drawn to a career and leadership position around helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness and revitalizing America’s cities.

Donovan shares his experience in participating in this year’s Point in Time Count of the homeless in Washington, D.C.

Click here to read the article.

We were very pleased to hear Secretary Donovan speak on March 18, 2011, when HUD awarded a Choice Neighborhoods Grant to the Jersey City Housing Authority which is partnering with The Michaels Development Company and Metrovest Equities to develop a Transformation Plan for the McGinley Square–Montgomery Corridor neighborhood including the Montgomery Gardens public housing development.

For more information on this story click here.