Transcript Counting the Sheltered and Unsheltered

Point-in-Time Count
January 2011
What Does It Mean to Count Homeless People?
A “count” = collecting information about the sheltered and
unsheltered homeless population in your community
Data on the
number of
homeless
people
+
Descriptive
information on
those counted
•Demographic
•Service Use
•Needs
=
Point-in-time
count of
homeless
people
It is possible just to do a count, but preferable to
gather descriptive information, too - it will make your
count much more valuable and informative!
Why is the PIT Important?
• Identify gaps in services
• Generates resources for the community
• Local data for planning & measuring
progress
• Data is reported in CoC application
• AHAR to Congress
• HUD Data Exchange System (HDX)
Data Collected
• Subpopulation Information required for CoC
– Chronically homeless
– Severely mentally ill
– Chronic substance abuse
– Veterans
– Persons with HIV/AIDS
– Victims of domestic violence
– Unaccompanied youth (Under 18)
– Persons with physical disabilities
Additional Data
•
•
•
•
•
•
Medical care
Transportation issues
Education
Employment
Childcare
Locality of homelessness
Methods for Data Collection
• Provider data collection
– Total number of households and persons residing in
facilities on the night of the count
– Number in each of the seven subpopulation
categories
• Client level data collection
– Staff complete individual surveys for each client using
case management records or their knowledge of the
client
– CoC staff, volunteers, or program staff interview
clients directly
Challenges for Rural Areas
• Lack of shelters
• Where to look for
unsheltered homeless
people
• Remoteness
• Availability of staff and
volunteer resources
• Belief that there are no,
or very few, unsheltered
homeless
• Limited resources/funding
Overcoming Challenges
– Engage local departments
of social services
– Call upon local colleges
and universities
– Utilize the faith community
– Make contact with local
jails
– Mail carriers
– Contact mental health
agencies/community
service boards
– You may even want to
contact local hotel owners
that may know of people
who stay periodically
When to Start. . .
– At least 6 months prior
to January due date
– Train volunteers
– Conduct a trial run for
unsheltered count with
emphasis on engaging
street homeless
– Meet with service
providers
– Review prior year’s
survey for
inconsistencies
Your Survey Tool
– Keep the survey instrument
simple
– Collect universal data
elements (race, gender,
ethnicity)
– Develop key codes to ensure
there is no duplication
Resources
• www.hudhre.gov
• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_unsheltered.pdf
• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_sheltered.pdf
You have not lived a perfect day...unless you have done something for
someone who will never be able to repay you.
~ Ruth Smeltzer