|
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need to determine
the size of the homeless population??
Why is the Count in late January
2009?
Will the Count include homeless
people who aren’t “on the streets” i.e., in temporary shelters?
How many people are needed to
help conduct the Count?
Do I need any special skills
to be a Counter? A Survey Taker?
Can I get paid to work on the
Count?
What is expected of a Counter?
What is expected of a Surveyor?
I am not able to be a Counter
or Surveyor. Are there other ways I can volunteer to help with
the Count?
How long will the Street Count
take?
What about safety during the
Count?
How do I sign up to volunteer?
How do I register for a training
session?
Why do we need to
determine the size of the homeless population?
Everyone counts in Orange County, whether they have a home or
not. We need to know the number and characteristics of people
in need, so we can plan and fund appropriate programs to help
them gain self-sufficiency. To implement our Ten Year Strategic
Plan to End Homelessness, we need a baseline against which we
will measure our success. And, to preserve critical, existing
funding for homeless services, we need an updated count of homeless
residents.
Why is the Count in
late January 2009?
The federal government, the largest source of public
funds for homeless services in Orange County, has directed that
localities applying for funding should complete their Point-In-Time
study during the last seven days of January 2009. During the wintertime,
Orange County’s two National Guard Armories are brought into service
to provide hundreds of additional emergency shelter beds. Many
homeless persons who do not seek shelter during other times of
the year often participate in this program during the cold and
rainy season.
Will the Count include
homeless people who aren’t “on the streets” i.e., in temporary
shelters?
Yes. We will be counting those living in areas “not fit
for human habitation”, which also includes any facilities recognized
as emergency shelters (generally those that take residents from
one day up to six months) and long-term transitional shelters
(generally those facilities that take residents that have “graduated”
from a short term program and need additional assistance from
three or six months up to 24 or 36 months).
How many people are
needed to help conduct the Count?
We need an estimated 300 volunteers to help with this
effort. The Orange County Point-In-Time Homeless Count & Survey
project has several parts: a street count, a shelter count, and
a homeless survey. The greatest need for volunteers is for counters
and deployment site staff during the Count morning on Saturday,
January 24th and for the survey process beginning on or about
January 26th and continuing for a couple of weeks.
Do I need any special
skills to be a Counter? A Survey Taker?
No. All volunteers will receive training that will prepare you
for your volunteer role. However, homeless service providers,
outreach workers and others that work directly with this population
are especially encouraged to participate.
Can I get paid to
work on the Count?
We are relying on community volunteers to assist with this effort.
However, there will be a stipend for those who are homeless who
assist in counting and interviewing other homeless residents.
What is expected of
a Counter?
People interested in being Counters must be over 18 years and
MUST attend a training session in January 2009 to learn about
the process and what your specific job will be on the morning
of the street count (check
our Training Schedule). Counters should also be able to walk
one to two miles unassisted. Then, on the morning of the Count
(January 24th), you will meet your team members at a pre-designated
deployment center to get your team and specific area assignment.
Finally, you will proceed with your team, led by your team leader
(in many cases an individual with specific experience working
with homeless persons) and traverse the area on foot and/or by
car, noting the number of homeless people observed on tally sheets.
You will not have direct interaction with persons presumed homeless.
What is expected of
a Homeless Surveyor?
People interested in being a survey taker must be over 18 years
old, and MUST attend a training session in January 2009 to learn
about the survey, and about interviewing techniques. Surveyors
should also be able to walk one to two miles unassisted. The survey
process will begin on or about January 26th and continuing for
a couple of weeks. Surveying involves interviewing homeless persons,
both sheltered and unsheltered, in designated areas throughout
Orange County to complete the survey. The survey includes approximately
35-45 questions, and takes about 20 minutes to complete. Completed
surveys will be submitted to staff at the deployment centers.
I am not able to be
a Counter. Are there other ways I can volunteer to help with the
Count?
Yes! We need people to staff the deployment sites during the morning
of the count. We also need people to help assemble field team
supplies and incentive packets that will be provided to homeless
survey respondents. Support Volunteer roles are especially good
opportunities for high school students. Please see our Volunteer
Application or contact info@pointintimeoc.org
for more Support Volunteer information.
How long will the
Street Count take?
Prepare for a long morning. We will start by meeting at deployment
sites at 4 a.m. Teams will proceed to their locations by 5 a.m.,
and depending on the size of the one to two areas to be covered,
will complete the count sometime by 12 noon. Counters are free
to leave after their team has completed their assigned area, and
returned their tally sheets to the deployment site coordinator.
The deployment centers will be open and staffed throughout the
morning and coffee and refreshments will be provided.
What about safety
during the Count?
Safety is emphasized above all concerns. Though the Count will
be during the night, all participants will work in teams, led
by an outreach worker or other person with specific experience
training for this process, and general knowledge of the geographic
area to be covered. Law enforcement officers in each area will
be notified of the counting effort, and will be on call to assist
in the case of any emergency.
How do I sign up
to volunteer?
You fill out our Online
Application.
How do I register
for a training session?
The trainings will occur in January. The exact dates will be provided
later. |
