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INTRODUCTIONS
Kathleen Wing
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Volunteer Coordinator
Manette Magera
(321) -537-3339
Email: [email protected]
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 The Point in Time Survey (P.I.T) when
completed provides an unduplicated count
of the people who are currently or at risk of
becoming homeless in our community.
 The information collected provides facts for
local, regional, state, and national planning.
The P.I.T Survey helps identify the nature,
cause, and extent of homelessness so that we
plan appropriately .
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What is the Purpose of the P.I.T Survey?
Understand the trends in the homeless population
Pinpoints specifics of that homeless population
Generates public awareness
Projections for policy development and planning
Motivate and mobilize community involvement
Assess needs and gaps in services
Request Federal, state, and private funding
Measure progress towards preventing and ending
homelessness
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1. Help recruit volunteers
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Tell your coworkers, friends, and family how
they
can help
2. Become a surveyor
- Volunteers will be assigned according to need
- Volunteers will most likely be given a two-tofour-hour shift
3. Assist with data entry after the count
-Enter data into the HMIS system
Note: No one 17 or younger will be accepted to participate as a
surveyor.
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Who do “U Count”
HUD requires that CoCs identify counts of
specific subpopulations. The subpopulations are:
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Chronically Homeless Individuals
Chronically Homeless Families
Veterans
Severely Mentally Ill
Chronic Substance Abuse
Persons with HIV/AIDS
Victims of Domestic Violence
Unaccompanied Child (under 18)
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Un-Sheltered
Unsheltered count includes all homeless persons
who were on the street or in a place unfit for
human habitation on the night of the count.
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Cars
Parks
Sidewalks
Abandoned Buildings
Streets
Encampments
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Sheltered
For the sheltered count, include all persons who –
on the ‘Night of the count’ “Jan. 24th” – that were
sleeping in beds that are designated for persons
who are homeless and staying in either
Emergency Shelter
(1-7 days)
Or
Transitional Housing
(2wks-24 months)
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Who do “U” NOT Count
Persons residing in the following settings on
the night of the count should not be included in
the sheltered PIT count:
 Persons residing in permanent supported housing programs,
 Persons residing in Section 8 housing
 Persons who are living in an overcrowded residence
 Persons living in substandard homes (the electricity is out, or
there is a hole in the floor)
 Persons living in hotels or motels without agency assistance
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@ Emergency Shelters
@ Transitional Housing
@ Resource Centers
@ Soup Kitchens
@ Food Pantries
@ Congregate Meals Sites
@ Clothing Closets
@ Encampments
@ Service Providers
@ Mental Health Facility
@ Health Clinics
@ Motels
@ School System
@ Domestic Violence Agency
@ Churches
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“I know you believe you understand what
you think I said. But I’m not sure you realize
that what you heard is not what I meant.”
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The Interview
As a homeless count volunteer, your goal is
to get as much information from each person
as possible and try to complete every
question for each respondent.
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Setting the Tone
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Be courteous
Be respectful
Be non-threatening
If a person seems uncomfortable answering a
question, consider skipping it and asking it again
at the end of the interview.
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A homeless person may be startled and
hesitant to cooperate with a stranger asking for
information.
Therefore, it might help to approach by using a
script…
Hello, my name is (FIRST NAME). I’m a
volunteer with the EscaRosa Coalition and
we are conducting the annual survey of
displaced individuals and families in our
community.
Will you help me by answering a few
personal questions? It should only take
about five minutes to complete and is
completely confidential.
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Remember:
This is not a counseling session.
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 Ask the consumer if they have completed the survey at another
location.
 The interviewer must complete the survey for the consumer
 Interviewers should not spend over 5 minutes per survey.
 Surveys should be collected in the strictest confidence.
 If you feel unsafe at any time, use the code word “calculator” to
let your team know what’s going on
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Make contact with site contact.
Ensure YOUR personal safety.
Be polite and pay attention to your surroundings
Avoid distractions when doing the survey.
Know the cell number of the Volunteer Manager.
Report any injuries and if something looks unsafe it probably is.
Make sure you dress appropriately in comfortable clothing.
Be sure each survey is complete.
Thank the consumer for his/her time.
Turn in all surveys to the site contact.
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Do not take more than 5 minutes to complete a survey
Do not give any money.
Do not allow the individual to complete the survey.
Do not enter an encampment alone.
Do not bring your purse or wear expensive jewelry.
Do not take pictures
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Give all completed surveys to the
Site Contact.
If your site contact is not available, contact
ECOH at 439.3009
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 Date: Tuesday, February 7th 10:00 a.m. at ECOH
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What went right?
Areas we may improve
What we can do next year?
Needs and gaps analysis
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QUESTIONS
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TEST
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
It is acceptable to ask the consumer
to fill out the survey.
Surveyors should spend at least 15
minutes with each consumer.
You are required to fill out Section 1,
the location of the survey.
If you are 16, you can still be a PIT
survey volunteer.
Surveyors should collect first and last
names of each consumer.
Surveys should be collected in the
strictest confidence.
Surveyors should thank the consumer
after completing the survey.
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It is okay to leave a few of the
questions on the survey blank.
9. A consumer can abandon the survey
at any time.
10. If you can’t find your site contact, it
is okay to leave your surveys
unattended.
11. If a client gets loud with you, you
can get loud back at them.
12. Its okay for the interviewer to
abandon the survey.
13. You can fill in multiple responses in
Section 7.
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