[UCM LIST: Healthprofadvising-l] Point-in-Time Volunteer Opportunity

[Erica Robbins]

Message forwarded on behalf of UC Merced Health Sciences Research Institute's Translational Research Center (TRC):



Merced "Point-In-Time" count is looking for volunteers to collect data for people who are experiencing homelessness. This is a great opportunity to assist with community data collection and help your community! (Please see Point-In-Time description below).



When

January 27, 2022: 6am - 8am



What

YOU WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY AND GIVE THEM A "CARE PACKAGE KIT".



Who - We Need You!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO SIGN UP TO GO OUT IN GROUPS AND LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.



How - Can You Help?

Use this link and REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQKMElSom-cDAUn0aUd0CoHI7dYLVYPs5QCrbSQXN6bNOaaQ/viewform>!



If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Phil Schmauss, Merced Street Count Project Manager, at mercedstreetcount at gmail.com<mailto:mercedstreetcount at gmail.com>.



About: Point-In-Time



In the early 2000s, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began requiring an annual Point in Time count as a means of collecting vital data in individual communities.



When it comes to working with people who are experiencing homelessness, data is a powerful tool. Without data, it's near impossible to understand the challenges a community faces or track the success of agency programs intended to address those challenges.



HUD requires PIT counts annually, but only requires the unsheltered portion of the count every other year. However, many communities include unsheltered people in their annual counts as a way to gather more accurate data and provide better services.



When the overarching goal is to reduce and eventually eliminate homelessness, it's absolutely necessary to understand exactly how many people need to be placed in housing. A headcount provides a hard data point that allows communities to form an actionable plan. Without a headcount, agencies would have to rely on anecdotal data and assumptions to address the challenges in their community.



In the end, it would be impossible to know if housing programs and other forms of support were actually working to reduce and eliminate homelessness.



HUD requires PIT counts so that communities and agencies can review data year-over-year to assess their own success. And, HUD uses this data to distribute federal funds accordingly.



On a local level, these counts allow agencies to plan for real needs. People who are experiencing homelessness are naturally difficult to track because they move frequently and do not always feel comfortable using community resources available to them. It can be easy for individuals to fly under the radar for months or even years.



Getting out on the street level and physically counting these people is the only way to fully understand the scope of work a community has ahead of them in order to adequately house each individual.



Point-in-Time counts also demonstrate real needs to funding entities like HUD and other agencies so that they can make monetary decisions based on data.



Publishing data from a Point-in-Time count raises awareness among community members who can participate in the solution. City officials, businesses, and residents need to be aware of how many people in their vicinity are facing this problem so that they can vote on policies and support agencies that are working to put an end to homelessness.



Use this link and REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQKMElSom-cDAUn0aUd0CoHI7dYLVYPs5QCrbSQXN6bNOaaQ/viewform>!

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[cid:e6bf14ff-05b9-439a-a4cd-cfe9ad81c9e1]

Micaela Sandoval (she/her/ella)



Lab Assistant| Translational Research Center - Health Sciences Research Institute

https://trc.ucmerced.edu<https://trc.ucmerced.edu/>
BUILDING THE FUTURE IN THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA

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