Transcript Everyone Counts

2014 Point in Time
Count Training
Connect. Advocate. Empower
We Will Work Together
We Will Communicate
We Will Share Best Practices and Resources
We Will be Well Prepared
We Will Help the Homeless
Why Am I Here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zziq6onTGuw
Why We Count
• Understand the scope of homelessness and
trends and Help as a Continuum
• Improve Services and Identify Gaps
• Use Data to Justify New Services/Programs
• Public Education and Advocacy Efforts
Everyone Counts
Accurate Data A Must
• Correlations and Trends from Year to
Year
• Learn More About Root Causes
• Collaboration = MACH
Everyone Counts
Statewide Effort
Working Together is a Must – Large Task
MACH’s Turf
Aiken
Kershaw
Allendale
Lancaster
Bamberg
Lexington
Barnwell
Newberry
Calhoun
Orangeburg
Chester
Richland
Fairfield
York
Everyone Counts
The PIT is a Snapshot
• Identify all Individuals and Families
Experiencing Homelessness on 1.23.14
• Focus is on Accurate Data and Planning
↓
• Put Ourselves in the Best Position Possible
to Capture the most Accurate Information
Everyone Counts
Training Goals
• Learn or Review the PIT Basics
• Understand the Survey Instrument
• Work Together to Plan for Everyone
• Establish a Follow Up Plan for the Count
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
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 –
voucher on PIT Count Form
Everyone Counts
Key Subpopulations
-Chronic Disabling Conditions
-Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
-Substance Abuse
-HIV/AIDS
-Severe Mental Illness
-Veterans Status
-HIV/AIDS
-Domestic Violence
-Length of Homelessness
Everyone Counts
Doubled Up = No For Now
• 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- No HUD Direction Yet
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
2013 PIT Count
State Total: 6035
•Emergency Shelter: 1535
•Transitional Housing: 1384
•Unsheltered: 3116
Everyone Counts
28.3%
From
2011
2013 PIT Count
MACH Total: 2070
•Emergency Shelter: 609
•Transitional Housing: 463
•Unsheltered: 998
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
2013 Fun Facts
• First PIT that Richland County Utilized
Columbia Police Department
• Big Numbers in the State: Richland: 1518
Greenville: 896
Horry: 839
• See entire report on schomless.org
Everyone Counts
2013 Fun Facts
• MACH Represented 34% of the State
totals.
• Richland County-74 % of MACH.
• Apparently, There are no Homeless People
in Barnwell County.
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
New In 2014
• McKinney-Vento Collaboration
• Veteran/ VA Stand Down Collaboration
• Only One Form!!!
• More Support Materials
Everyone Counts
HUD Homeless
• Need to Clearly Understand this Definition So
You Know Who to Count- Call Your County
Coordinator, Your Continuum Coordinator, or
Other Team Leaders if you Have Questions
• Determining History of Homelessness, HUD
Compliance, and Treatment History May Take
Having a Conversation and Asking Additional
Questions…
Everyone Counts
HUD Homeless
•Literally homeless – An individual or family who lacks a
fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, meaning
the individual or family has a primary nighttime residence
that is a public or private place not meant for human
habitation or is living in a publicly or privately operated
shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangements.
•Imminent Risk- Individual or family who will imminently
lose (within 14 days) their primary nighttime residence
provided that no subsequent residence has been identified
and lack the resources or support networks needed to
obtain other permanent housing.
Everyone Counts
HUD Homeless
•Homeless under other Federal Statutes – unaccompanied
youth (under 25) or families with children and youth who
do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition
and are defined as homeless under another federal statute,
have not had permanent housing during the past 60 days,
have experience persistent instability, and can be expected
to continue in such status for an extended period of time.
•Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence – any
individual or family who is fleeing, or attempting to flee,
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or
stalking.
Everyone Counts
2.5 Counts
• Unsheltered Count
• Sheltered Count
• Service Count
Everyone Counts
One Form
Survey Instrument Training and Practice
Everyone Counts
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”
Everyone Counts
Getting Started
• Initiating the Conversation Very Important
• Introduce Yourself and Be Respectful
• Speak Clearly
• Explain the PIT and Why You are Counting and
Get The Consent
Everyone Counts
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 23rd. Is it OK to explain a few things and
then ask you some questions?”
Everyone Counts
While Interviewing
• Practice and Feel Comfortable before the
Count
• Full and Complete Forms – Double Check
• Fill out ENTIRE FORM – Double Check Again
• Avoid Don’t Know / Refused
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
Incentive Packs
• Working to Secure Donations for Incentive
Packs for All Counties in MACH
• Typically Hygiene Items
• Hats, Socks, Gloves – less accessible
Everyone Counts
Helping Someone
• Information = Access to Sustainable 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
Everyone Counts
Helping Someone
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
Sheltered Count
You May Have Some Questions???
Everyone Counts
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.
Everyone Counts
Count Safety
• Volunteers should be Trained, Waivers Signed
Before the Count – HAVE A HOME BASE
• Everyone to Stay with Their Team
• Use Your Volunteer Roster
• Make Sure Everyone Knows the Schedule and
the Emergency Plan
Everyone Counts
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
Everyone Counts
Count Gear
• Flashlight
• Pens
• Clipboards
• Volunteer Roster
• Charged Cell Phone
• Clip Boards and Count Forms
• Schedules
Everyone Counts
Next Steps / What Now?
• Sheltered or Unsheltered Count?
• When are you Available to Help?
• This Training Available at www.schomeless.org
• Be comfortable with the Survey Instrument
• Questions?
Everyone Counts
Go Counting
Thank you
Everyone Counts