Transcript Everyone Counts

2014 Point in Time
Count Training
Why Am I Here?
Video Goes Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zziq6onTGuw
What Did I Get Myself Into?
Policy # 1
Seriously, What Did I Get Myself Into?
Policy # 2
No One is Alone in This Effort
Reasons Not To Stress
You Are Not Allowed-No Stress Policy
We Will All Work Together
We Are A Network
We Will Share Best Practices and Resources
We Are Going to be Well Prepared
We Are Helping the Homeless
The PIT Count is Essential to Solving the
Issue
Introductions
• Name and County
• Employer and Position
• Count Experience or Experience with
Homelessness
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Why We Count
• Large Factor in Determining the Amount
of Federal Funding Available for Homeless
Programs in our State.
• Used as a Measure in Determining the
Effectiveness in the Impact of Existing
Services. Are We Meeting the Current
Needs? Are We Funded Accordingly?
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Why We Count
• Improve Services and Identify Gaps
• Use Data to Justify New Services/Programs
• Identify Trends and Learn More About
Root Causes of Homelessness
• Count Analyze Adjust Progress
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Key Subpopulations
• Count Data Examines Homelessness and…
-Chronic Disabling Conditions
-Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
-Substance Abuse
-HIV/AIDS
-Severe Mental Illness
-Veterans Status
-HIV/AIDS
-Domestic Violence
-Length of Homelessness
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Accurate Data A Must
• Correlations and Trends from Year to
Year
• Learn More About Root Causes
• Collaboration = MACH
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MACH’s Future Initiatives
• Increase Participation From Agencies
• Upcoming Monthly Newsletter…
Agency Profiles, Clients Success Stories,
Promote Awareness and Educate About
Homelessness
• Connect. Advocate. Empower. REBRAND…
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MACH and PIT
•Rollout New Collaborative Identity
• Unique Opportunity to Demonstrate
Collaboration in Action
• PIT Should Educate Public About
Homelessness Raise Awareness for MACH
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MACH’s Turf
Aiken
Kershaw
Allendale
Lancaster
Bamberg
Lexington
Barnwell
Newberry
Calhoun
Orangeburg
Chester
Richland
Fairfield
York
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The PIT is a Snapshot
• Identify all Individuals and Families
Experiencing Homelessness on 1.24.13
• Focus is on Accurate Data and Planning
↓
• Put Ourselves in the Best Position Possible
to Capture the most Accurate Information
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Training Goals
• Learn or Review the PIT Basics
• Understand the Survey Instrument
• Work Together to Plan for Everyone
• Everyone Leaves Prepared, Comfortable,
Happy, and Ready to Implement Plan
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Who We Count
Sheltered Homeless
•Emergency shelters, rescue missions,
and seasonal shelters
•Domestic violence shelters
(confidential)
•Hotel or motel paid for by public or
private funds in lieu of a shelter bed
•Imminent risk – 14 days
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Who We Count
Unsheltered Homeless
•Place not meant for human
habitation (car, under bridge, tents,
streets, abandoned building, public
restrooms, garages, etc.)
•Hotel or motel paid for by public or
private funds in lieu of a shelter bed
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Doubled Up???
• Living with Friends, Family, Motel Paid
Without Assistance
• Although at Risk, HUD Does Not Consider
This Population Homeless
• Would Like More Information on This
Population-Still Complete Survey-Research
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How We Count
• Data Dumps from HMIS – Participating Shelters
• Completing 2014 PIT Count Forms for Through
Person to Person Interaction
•Involve Local Providers – Service Count
• Use Creative and Innovative Ways to Find New
Data Sources - Brainstorm and Reach Out to
Untapped Resources for Help - Ideas Forthcoming
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2013 PIT Strategies
•All – Contact Shelters that do not Participate in HMIS
Before the Count. Inform, Educate, Gain Access
•Metro Areas - Street Teams (AM and PM) Dispatched on
January 24th and Subsequent Days (6) to Count Unsheltered
Homeless. Pre-Scouted Known Locations. Block by Block
Canvassing
•All -Implement Service Counts. DSS, Soup Kitchens,
Housing Authorities, etc. County Coordinators Identify
Service-Based Organizations Where Unsheltered Homeless
are Likely to Seek Assistance. Inform, Educate, Gain Access
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2013 PIT Count
State Total: 6035
•Emergency Shelter: 1535
•Transitional Housing: 1384
•Unsheltered: 3116
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28.3%
From
2011
2013 PIT Count
MACH Total: 2070
•Emergency Shelter: 609
•Transitional Housing: 463
•Unsheltered: 998
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27.7%
From
2011
MACH #s by County
Aiken: 15
Kershaw: 54
Allendale: 3
Lancaster: 9
Bamberg: 4
Lexington: 121
Barnwell: 0
Newberry: 13
Calhoun: 5
Orangeburg: 63
Chester: 20
Richland: 1518
Fairfield: 18
York: 187
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2013 Fun Facts
• First PIT that Richland County Utilized
Police Department
• Big Numbers in the State: Richland: 1518
Greenville: 896
Horry: 839
• See entire report on schomless.org
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2013 Fun Facts
• MACH Represented 34% of the State
totals.
• Richland County-74 % of MACH.
• Apparently, There are no Homeless People
in Barnwell County.
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2014 Focal Points
• Better Data Quality – 100% Completed Surveys
• Developing Increased Community Support
• Collaborative Planning
• Better Implementation of Rural Count Strategy
• Better Understanding of HUD Homeless
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New In 2014
• McKinney-Vento Collaboration
• Veteran/ VA Stand Down Collaboration
• Better Relationships = More Data
• New Videos and Support Materials
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Doing It
Short Video
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Initiating the Interaction
• Initiating the Conversation Very Important
• Introduce Yourself and Be Respectful
• Speak Clearly
• Explain the PIT and Why You are Counting
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Initiating the Interaction
Explain the PIT and Why You are Counting
“Hi, I’m Tom, a volunteer with the PIT Count. Have you heard of
that before?”
• “Every year area service providers and volunteers try to get an
accurate figure on how many people do/did not have a place to
stay tonight/January 24th. Is it OK to explain a few things and
then ask you some questions?”
•
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Get That Consent
Short Video
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While Interviewing
• Practice and Feel Comfortable before the
Count
• Repeat Yourself if Needed
• Don’t Judge – yourself or others – not healthy
• Try to Avoid Don’t Know / Refused
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After the Interaction
• Thank the Person
• Offer Incentive Packs or Provide Information
• Put the Form in a Safe Place – SS#
• Keep Looking and Return all Forms to County
Coordinator(s) w/in 24 hours
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Incentive Packs
• Working with Other UWM Staff to Secure
Donations for Incentive Packs for All Counties in
MACH
• Typically Hygiene Items
• Hats, Socks, Gloves – less accessible
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Helping Someone
• Continuum Coordinator will Provide All County
Coordinators with Resources for Help
• Recommend that Volunteers Do Not Carry
Money with them, or Give Money Away
• Putting Someone in Need in Front of a
Knowledgeable Provider is More Valuable
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Helping Someone
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The Instrument
Screen-O-Matic Video
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HUD Homeless
• Need to Clearly Understand this Definition So You Know
Who to Count- Call Your County Coordinator, Your
Continum Coordinator, or Another Volunteer If You Have
Questions
• Need to Clearly Understand this Definition to Answer
Questions 6 and 7 on Form
• Chronically Homeless: Determining this with a Person
May Take Having a Conversation and Asking Additional
Questions
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Sheltered Count
• Locate
• Contact
• Plan
• Implement
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Sheltered Count
• Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing
• Domestic Violence Shelters
• Residential Programs for Runaway/Homeless Youth
• Motels or Apartment Vouchers Paid for by a Public or
Private Agency Because the Individual or Family is
Homeless
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Sheltered Count
Do Not Collect Information On:
•Formerly Homeless People – May Still Be in the Culture
• Children or youth who are temporarily residing in institutions
(emergency foster care, treatment facilities)
• Adults living in mental health, chemical dependency or criminal
justice facilities
• Precariously Housed vs. Imminent Risk (14 Days)
•Individuals or Families that are Doubled Up
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Sheltered Count
You May Have Some Questions???
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Sheltered Count
• How do I Know if a Shelter is on HMIS?
• Do People Have to Participate?
• How Do I Gain Access to These Shelters?
– We Have a Plan –
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Unsheltered Count
• Know Your Volunteer Crew Members
(Volunteer Recruitment Strategy Forthcoming…No
Stressing Allowed)
• Not For Everybody…Great For Some…
• Volunteer Form Will Decide For You –
(Forthcoming as Well)
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Unsheltered Count
• Literally Homeless - Staying in a Place not Meant
for Human Habitation such as Cars, Parks,
Sidewalks, Abandoned Buildings, Street Benches,
Woods Cemeteries
Structures Lacking the Ability to Cook Food, No
Water, No Heat, and No Restroom, etc. On the
Night of January 24th.
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Unsheltered Methods
• Before the Count, Identify Places Where the
Homeless are Likely to Receive Services, Eat, and
Live
• Pre-Scout Technique=Ensure that the Location is
Active and You Know the Environment in the Day
• Active?  Homeless Still Actively Use Locations
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Unsheltered Methods
• Use Current or Formerly Homeless for Help in
Identifying the Locations
• Call Providers/Agencies to Inform them about
the Count and ask Permission to Conduct PIT
• Call Police Department and ask for Their
Assistance in Identifying Locations
• Talk with Shelter Staff or Outreach Workers
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Unsheltered Methods
• Look for the Path
• Speak with Gas Station Employees
• Ask Your Friends and Volunteers to Look
• Free Public Places
• Rely on Experts, but Always be Looking
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Unsheltered Locales
• Under Bridges – not for everyone
• Parking Garages
• Parks
• Cemeteries
• Downtown Metro Areas Near Homeless Services
or Meal Locations
• Wooded Areas Behind Gas Stations / Stores
• Near Churches
• “Street Sweeps”
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Service Based Count
• Identify Agencies to Participate in a Service
Based Count During Count Dates
• Conduct Brief Trainings with Providers and have
the Providers Assist you by Completing Forms for
you at Their Agencies – Training Counts
• Use Service Guide Count Guide to Keep Records
of Agency Contacts, #s, Training Dates, etc.
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DV Shelters
• Data Dump by Request
• Still Need to Note When Documenting if you are
Completing the Survey as Part of Unsheltered
Count
• Otherwise County Coordinators are not
Responsible
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Volunteer Recruitment
• Identify Service Groups in Your Area – Bang for
Buck and Easy Training Efforts / Reliable
• State Feature Call to Action / Incentives
• Use the Local Media – Press Release – Script
• Reach Out to Churches, Student Groups,
PROVIDERS in Your County (see Provider List)
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Event Marketing
• Ask a Local Church to Conduct a Meal or Event
• Send Teams of Volunteers to the Event
• A Hot Breakfast is Easy for a Church and will
Attract the Homeless
• Make Flyers or Use Flyer Template to Advertise –
Inform Your Coalition Coordinator for Possible
Advertising / Marketing for the Event
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Count Safety
• Volunteers should be Trained, Waivers Signed
Before the Count
• Everyone to Stay with Their Team
• Use Your Volunteer Roster
• Make Sure Everyone Knows the Schedule and
the Emergency Plan
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Emergency Procedures
• Focus on Prevention - Do not Take Chances – Be
Smart, Be Careful, Prevent Accidents Before They
Happen
• All Volunteers Have Volunteer Roster w/ ThemContact Info of Team, CC, and Coalition
Coordinator
• Emergency – 911
Non Emergency Line – 803-252-2911
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Count Gear
• Flashlight
• Pens
• Clipboards
• Volunteer Roster
• Charged Cell Phone
• Clip Boards and Count Forms
•
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County Planning
• Time to Develop Your Plan
• Take About 20 Minutes with the
Materials
• Reconvene and We Can Talk About
Plans as a Group
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Tips
• Use Outreach Workers / Homeless or Formerly Homeless
• Have Volunteer(s) Fluent in Spanish
• Reach out to Providers Early
• Know Your Form and Train Well – DATA
• Secure Volunteers Early
• Use the Materials Provided
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Q&A With Count Pros
• Use Outreach Workers / Homeless or Formerly Homeless
• Have Volunteer(s) Fluent in Spanish
• Reach out to Providers Early
• Know Your Form and Train Well – DATA
• Secure Volunteers Early
• Use the Materials Provided
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Next Steps / What Now?
• Finalize Your Count Plan
• Recruit Volunteers – Already Know How Many
• Stay in Touch – Follow ups From Me and Conference Calls
• Volunteer Trainings
• Execute
• Call Me with Questions, or Ask Now…
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