Transcript Slide 1

Balance of State Region
Jason Rodriguez
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
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Balance of State, Chatham, Clarke, Cobb,
Muscogee, Richmond, Tri-J
Separate efforts, different ways of counting
Balance of State region covers 152 counties
(out of 159 total)
 Homeless census in all counties = too costly!
 Some estimation is necessary
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Each Continuum of Care (CoC) must submit
complete homeless counts for every county
in their jurisdiction every two years.
This must be a point-in-time (one-night)
count during the last week of January.
This year, we chose the point-in-time night to
be Monday, January 28.
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Before 2008
 Estimations based on poverty rate, etc.
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2008, 2009, 2011
 Statistical model (KSU)
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2013
 We are sticking with the
statistical approach
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Statewide
 19,876 total homeless on one night (down 6% )
 57% were unsheltered (no change)
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Balance of State
 10,242 total homeless on one night (down 7%)
 77% were unsheltered (down 2%)
Worked for Pay in 30 Days Prior to Survey
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Not at All
50%
Day Labor
40%
Part-Time
30%
Full-Time
20%
10%
0%
Unsheltered
Homeless
Sheltered
Homeless
Missing data rate: 12%
Precariously
Housed
Other
Homeless
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Nov 2: County targeting decisions made
Nov 5: Funding decisions made
Nov 14: Count coordinator meeting in Macon
Dec 5: Conference call – updates, concerns
Jan 21-25: Train volunteers
Jan 29-Feb 4: Count
Feb 14: Surveys due back to KSU
Apr 20: KSU sends data to DCA
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It is possible we’ll be able to count in 80
counties this year
Counties we may not provide funding for
 Lincoln, McDuffie, Warren, Jefferson, Burke,
Glynn, Jones, Carroll, Worth, Colquitt, Dougherty,
Mitchell, Thomas, Miller, Decatur, Glynn
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Overlapping county availability
 If you have experience coordinating DCA’s Census
in the past, you will be chosen over someone who
is not experienced
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We are expanding the census to a greater
number of counties, but with less funds
available per county.
Many things would help a homeless census
be more thorough and accurate, but we have
to focus on the resources that are absolutely
necessary.
Contracts will be written up soon, and funds
are awarded on a reimbursement basis.
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Acceptable costs
 Small incentives for survey respondents ($5 or
less); flyers and other advertisements; meals, gas,
and supplies for volunteers; travel and other
reasonable compensation for staff; postage for
mailing surveys
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Try to find additional sources of funding for:
 Appreciation luncheons/dinners, better or more
incentives, special projects, miscellaneous
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Keep all your receipts!
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Please do not print or copy surveys on your
own. They have to be professionally printed
in a certain way.
Overestimate how many surveys you will
need, and DCA will provide them.
This will save KSU tons of time and effort
when scanning the surveys.
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Invest in a little advertising
Make use of your connections (service clubs,
churches, charities)
Pursue corporate sponsorships
Any successful strategies you would like to
share?
 What has worked in the past?
 What hasn’t worked in the past?
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Advertise in the newspaper, on the radio, etc.
Try to get local media outlets on board
Contact churches, colleges, school boards,
police departments, DFACS, etc.
Don’t go it alone! Partner with other service
providers.
Any suggestions?
 What has worked?
 What hasn’t worked?
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After I inform you of county targeting
decisions on Friday: Start establishing
contacts immediately, and begin fundraising
efforts as soon as possible.
Meeting at River Edge in Macon on
November 14, 10:30 AM.
 Updates, further discussion, questions, concerns,
brainstorming