FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2015
Volunteers needed for Homeless Point-In-Time Count 2016
Riverside County- In just two months, communities nationwide will begin conducting their annual Point-In-time (PIT) Homeless Count and survey. Five hundred volunteers are needed to conduct Riverside County’s survey of the homeless to determine the region’s needs for homeless services, and to help guide decisions about how to use resources.
The Department of Public Social Services will partner with the Riverside County Continuum of Care to conduct the one-day survey on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. The PIT Count is federally-mandated by the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Riverside County’s 2016 PIT Homeless Count is divided into two areas, Street-based which will take place from 5:30 AM to 9:30AM and Service-based which takes place from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Last year a total of 533 volunteers were deployed across the region to successfully count and survey the unsheltered population. Volunteer recruitment is encouraged among neighborhood and non-profit organizations, college students, faith-based institutions, community service clubs, and social service providers. Important data will be collected on the general homeless population and subpopulations of homeless Veterans, families, youth and chronically homeless individuals.
The 2015 Point-In-Time Homeless Count identified 1,587 unsheltered and 883 sheltered homeless people in Riverside County. Unsheltered homeless people include those living in places unfit for human habitation, such as on the street or in a park.
Organizations or individuals may register online at: www.RiversideHomelessCounts.com
Questions may be directed to Donyielle Holley, Riverside County Point-In-Time Coordinator (951) 358-3844 or RivCoPIT@RiversideDPSS.org.
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