2013 Point in Time Count Training

Point In Time Count

1http://www.wvceh.org

Lindsay KnottsProject Specialistlindsayknotts@wvceh.orgPO Box 4697929 West Main StreetBridgeport, WV 26330304-842-9522 (office)304-282-6330 (cell)

Amanda SissonHMIS Data Coordinator and Traineramandasisson@wvceh.org PO Box 4697929 West Main StreetBridgeport, WV 26330304-842-9522 (office)304-641-8557 (cell)

Rachael CoenOutreach Coordinatorrachaelcoen@wvceh.org PO Box 4697929 West Main StreetBridgeport, WV 26330304-842-9522 (office)304-203-7787(cell)

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Homeless Services 101 Fact Sheet

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What is the PIT?

A count of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in the United States.

The unsheltered count is mandated bi-annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The sheltered count is mandated annually by HUD. WVCEH will pull the sheltered count data from HMIS in 2013.

WV conducts the sheltered and unsheltered PIT Count annually. Vital to assessing the level of need for homeless services and “painting a picture” of homelessness in the Balance of State.

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What is the HIC?

• The Housing Inventory Count (HIC) is an annual report to HUD

• Compiled and submitted by the Continuum of Care (CoC)

• Includes data about organizations, programs, and bed and unit inventory

• Provides information about a community’s capacity to house persons who are homeless at a local and national level

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PIT and HIC

• Why?• When?• Who?• Purpose?

Point In Time Count – Flow of Information

Depression

Drug abuse

Male, Veteran

Living in car

Homeless persons completes PIT

survey

Surveys received by WVCEH and the Balance of State

CoC

Homeless persons receives services and/or

housing

Surveys are tallied and NUMBERS

submitted to HUD which is sent to

Congress

CoC from across the

country submit

surveys to HUD

Congress uses numbers to make funding decisions

on homeless service dollars for HUD

HUD CoC funds funnel through the

WVCEH and the Balance of State

CoC

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Poll Questions

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Challenges

• Geography• Area• Rural vs. some urban• Not in my back yard• Uniformity

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West Virginia Balance of State Continuum of Care

WV Balance of State Continuum of Care Regions

HANCOCK

BROOK

OHIO

MARSHALL

WETZELMONONGALIA

TYLER MARION

PRESTONPLEASANTS

TAYLOR

WOODRITCHIE

DODDRIDGE

HARRISON

LEWIS

BARBOURTUCKER

WIRT

ROANE

CALHOUN

GILMER

JACKSON

MASONRANDOLPH

BRAXTON

UPSHUR

WEBSTER

POCAHONTASNICHOLAS

GREENBRIER

CLAYKANAWHA

PUTNAM

CABELL

BOONE FAYETTE

LINCOLNWAYNE

RALEIGHMINGO

LOGAN

WYOMING

MCDOWELL

SUMMERS

MONROE

MERCER

PENDLETON

GRANT

HARDY

MINERAL

HAMPSHIRE

MORGAN

BERKELEY

JEFFERSONOHIO

PENNSYLVANIA

KENTUCKY

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

Mon Valley – Region 2

Eastern Panhandle/PotomacHighlands – Region 4

Southern WV – Region 5

Central WV – Region 3

Mid-Ohio Valley – Region 1

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3 4

5

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Defining Homelessness

• People who are living in emergency shelter, a seasonal shelter or in transitional housing for homeless individuals and families

• A place not meant for human habitation on night of count, includes: car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground

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People NOT included in PIT Count

Permanent Supportive Housing participants (including VASH) – we need to know about these beds on the Bed Tally Sheet

Temporarily staying with family or friends

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Population Data Needed

The total number of persons and households for each of three household types:

• Households with at least one adult and one child• Households without children• Households with only children

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Population Data Age Categories Needed

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Subpopulation Data

The total number of sheltered and unsheltered in each subpopulation:

• Chronically homeless individuals• Chronically homeless families (total persons in households)• All Veterans• Female Veterans• Severely Mentally Ill• Chronic Substance Abuse• Persons with HIV/AIDS• Victims of Domestic Violence

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Chronic HomelessnessChronically Homeless Individual Chronically Homeless Family

Defined as an unaccompanied individual who is homeless (18 or older) with a disabling condition who has either been:

a)continuously homeless for a year or more (12 consecutive months)ORb) Has experienced four (4) or more episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years

Defined as a homeless family with at least one adult member (18 or older) who has a disabling condition and the family has either been:

a)continuously homeless for a year or more (12 consecutive months)ORb) Has experienced four (4) or more episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years

*HUD defines a disability as a physical, mental, or emotional impairment which is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration, substantially impedes an individual’s ability to live independently, and of such a nature that the disability could be improved by more suitable conditions, the disease of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or any conditions arising from the etiological agency for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; or a diagnosable substance abuse disorder.

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Data Collection Methods

Sheltered

Emergency Shelter (facility, voucher, HPRP funded Hotel/Motel Vouchers, or victims of natural disaster in program funded hotel/motels)

Transitional Housing Programs Supportive Housing Programs

Updated HIC HMIS Entry

Unsheltered

Street Count/ Public Places Count Outreach Event Service-Based Screening/ Interview Some combination of both methods

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Example of an “Assumption” when counties do not report data to WVCEH in the PIT

• No data received from Ritchie County, which has a population of 10,449.

• Data received from Grant County, which has a higher population (11,937), but did a good count in their rural area.

• According to the formula below, we assumed 12 total persons in Richie County are homeless on any given night.

Population of non-reporting county Variance in Number reported homeless NUMBER TO REPORT INpopulation in reporting county NON-REPORTING COUNTY

Population of similar reporting county

Does this seem reliable? Do you want to be provided data that has been derived this way to present to your funders?

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Where to find people who are unsheltered?

• Soup kitchens• Truck stops• National Forest/ campgrounds• All-night diners/ coffee shops• Libraries• Abandoned buildings and vehicles• Rest areas• River banks• Bridges

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Who to involve as volunteers for Unsheltered Count

• Homeless and Formerly Homeless• Local Churches• Colleges and Universities• Faith based Agencies• Local FRN• Local DHHR• Law Enforcement• State Park Officials• McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaisons

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Planning Tips

• Determine methodology that works for YOUR community

• Obtain local government support• Utilize people who are homeless or formerly

homeless (Permanent Supportive Housing participants), college/university groups, law enforcement, homeless education liaisons, etc.)

• Care packages/ incentives • Contingency plan!

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Contingency Planning

• In the event of inclement weather or other unexpected events that might prohibit the PIT Count from occurring on schedule, have a back up plan ready in your region that includes conducting the count in the last 10 days of January, but referencing the night of the 24th!

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Forms –

• Unsheltered and Non-HMIS Sheltered Survey• Non-HMIS Bed Tally Sheet

• Press Release• Notice to Law Enforcement• Notice to Business Establishments• Volunteer Release and Confidentiality Form

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Point In Time - Team Job Descriptions

PIT Coordinator • Communicate with community stakeholders• Monitor and coordinate status of action• Delegate tasks• Participate in WVCEH PIT Training(s)• Gathers all regional PIT Surveys and returns to WVCEH

Publicity Coordinator• Encourage participation of homeless sub-populations• Create and release homeless count volunteer recruitment press release• Create, reproduce, and distribute homeless count flier, Community Resource

Guide, and Self-Report Flier• Contact media outlets

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Team Job Descriptions Continued..

Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator• Work with WVCEH Staff to recruit volunteers (including Colleges, homeless or

previously homeless volunteers, participating agencies, and community members)

• Delegate tasks/coverage areas to volunteers• Receive and review volunteer training with the WVCEH/Balance of State CoC

Staff. Set training agenda, content, handouts, and location. • Ensure that all volunteer training materials are available for date of training.

Donation Coordinator • Review, discuss, and develop strategy as to what items should be given to

homeless during the count (blankets, food, food vouchers, flashlight, water, etc.).• Secure donations of items and location to store items prior to the count• Donate leftover items to provider agencies after the count. • Delegate tasks to all members to ensure participation and buy in of donations for

count. Ensure tasks are completed

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Team Job Descriptions Continued..Outreach Leader• Act as spokesperson for the team. • Carries map and is familiar with the assigned locations. Contact Point-In-Time Count Leader of WVCEH if shelter is needed/wanted. Contact 911 for injuries/incidents. Contact Point-In-Time Count Chair for

injuries/incidents. Provide donations to homeless.

General Volunteer• Search for unsheltered homeless within designated location.• Meet with team leader prior to beginning of count to obtain final instructions.• Provide donations to homeless.• Offer shelter and supportive services to homeless.• Be at least 18 years old.

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Safety Awareness

• Groups• Pre-designated areas• Cell phone, flashlight, whistle• Comfortable shoes, rain gear, warm clothing• “No means NO”

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Provide Incentives, Items, & Services

• Volunteers• Survey participants• WVCEH Financial Assistance budget ($300 Max)

• Would be a grant to the Agency of the PIT Lead in each region

• Budget request• Receipts requiredGrant Application for PIT Assistance

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After the count

• ALL data collection forms must be returned to the WVCEH office by February 15, 2013.

• Non-HMIS Shelters will fill out Shelter Tally Form and return with their shelter resident surveys

• WVCEH will distribute data to communities.• WVCEH will produce a Homeless Report for the

Balance of State CoC. This report should be available by late spring 2013.

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Poll Question

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Resources

• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2013HICandPITGuidance.pdf• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_unsheltered.pdf• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/• www.hudhre.info• www.wvceh.org

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Questions?