Missouri Balance of State Point-in-Time Count

1. Missouri Balance of StatePoint-in-Time Count Volunteer Guidance Unsheltered Count

2. What is a Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count? • A “count” is collecting the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in your community along with demographics and sub-population information • HUD requires the PIT count to be completed every year for the sheltered portion and every other year for the unsheltered portion • Missouri Continua have agreed to count twice per year in Missouri

3. Why Count? • The providers of homeless services in the Balance of State regularly seek grant funding from state and federal agencies, as well as private funders to support their efforts. The “Point-in-Time” count of the state’s homeless population helps to justify the need for these funds, and can be used to adjust service needs as appropriate.

4. Why Count (Continued) • In addition, the Point-in-Time Count: • Provides current and accurate data on the number and characteristics of homeless individuals and families • Provides information for policy and planning decisions at local, state, and federal levels • Creates opportunities to connect homeless individuals and families with local resources • Helps to understand barriers for accessing resources • Gives information on how to intervene with people who have recently become homeless or are on the verge of homelessness

5. Benefits of Accurate Data • Communities need accurate data to: • Make funding recommendations to elected officials • Determine size and scope of homelessness • Track local trends of homeless population • Plan services and programs to address needs • Measure progress in preventing and ending homelessness • Measure performance of individual programs and the systems as a whole

6. Benefits of Accurate Data (Cont) • HUD needs data to: • Understand the extent and nature of homelessness throughout the country • Report to Congress on performance of programs • Make funding decisions • Justify funding requests to Congress

7. Benefits of Counting Twice a Year • Get a more accurate picture of the homeless population in the state of Missouri • Track the trends and changes in summer vs. winter seasons • Incorporate homelessness awareness and education in the community twice a year • Creates an opportunity to reach out to individuals and families

8. Methods for Counting Unsheltered • Simple Street Count with Observation • No interviews; record observations of people • Street Count Plus Interviews • Interview with homeless individual or family • Service-based Count • Interviews at non-shelter service locations that unsheltered homeless individuals and families rely on to survive; i.e. soup kitchens or food banks, drop-in centers, healthcare centers, emergency rooms, churches, etc.

9. Simple Street Count with Observation • Easy to understand and results are easy to summarize • However, simple street counts do not provide comprehensive, in-depth information. • Observation should only be used if interview is not possible

10. Street Count with an Interview Component • More advanced method than simple observation • Interviews give organizers more information about unsheltered homeless people • Ensures better data – avoids duplication and helps to differentiate among people who are chronically homeless and those who are not

11. Service Based Count • Alternative to street count is using service programs to help access homeless people who do not use shelters and who may not be readily found in public places • These programs include homeless-specific services such as: drop-in centers, street outreach teams, soup kitchens, detox beds, warming shelters, and other agencies that are likely to come into contact with homeless people in areas that have few or no homeless-specific programs

12. When to Count? • The time period for data collection: • HUD measures the homeless count from dusk to dawn • The BoS count captures individuals that were homeless on a Wednesday evening, so the count should capture individuals or families that were homeless from dusk of Wednesday to dawn of Thursday • You may conduct a survey with an individual or family on Thursday or Friday after the count, if they state that they were homeless during the count period (dusk Wednesday to dawn Thursday) and have not already completed a survey form • Please do not conduct the count past Friday the week of the count • The count must capture individuals or families that were homeless on the date indicated on the survey form

13. Where to Count? • Foreclosed homes • Campgrounds • Riverbanks • Under bridges • Wooded areas • Abandoned buildings • Truck stops • 24 hour stores • Meal distribution centers • Libraries • Parks • Parking lots • Cars • Rest stops along major highways

14. Where to Count (Continued) • Ask local law enforcement to help locate areas where homeless individuals and families stay • Contact local hospitals prior to the count and talk with the social worker on staff. • Pay attention a few weeks before the count, you may notice new areas to visit • Ask formerly homeless individuals and families for ideas on where to look • Ask other local service providers • Before the count, provide homeless individuals and families an incentive; i.e. give away vouchers or provide a meal

15. Volunteer Responsibilities • Responsibilities will vary with different County Leaders • Preparing for the count by: • Speaking to service providers and others in the community for suggestions on where homeless individuals and families are staying • Assisting County Leader with mapping out the areas of the county that will need to be covered • Assisting County Leader with resource sheet to hand out (optional) • Soliciting donations to hand out the evening of the count (optional) • Assembling donation bags (optional)

16. Volunteer Responsibilities (Continued) • Performing the count by: • Counting unsheltered homeless individuals and families in the mapped out areas and completing a survey for each individual or family that is counted • Assisting the County Leader with getting surveys to service agencies to complete the “service-based” portion of the count at their facility • Turning in all completed survey forms to your County Leader in a timely manner

17. Counting • You will be counting UNSHELTERED homeless individuals and families • Unsheltered Homeless Definition: • Sleeping in places not meant for human habitation such as: cars, parks, sidewalks, tents, abandoned buildings, etc. • Please note: • This does not include those staying with friends or family; this is considered “doubled-up” • Although someone who is “doubled-up” is not counted as being an “unsheltered” homeless person or family, we still count these numbers as part of our unsheltered count • If someone is staying in a hotel/motel or shelter they should be counted in the sheltered portion of the count • Notify your leader of these places • You can not complete a survey if you simply find evidence of someone living there at one time • You must actually see them to count them

18. Survey Form

19. Survey Form Continued

20. Survey Form Cont’d

21. Review of Survey Form • Please complete as much information as possible on the survey form • Complete one survey per individual or family • If any information is unknown, please estimate to the best of your ability – unlike past counts ALL demographic information is required • All information is confidential • If you can’t approach an individual or family, fill out what you can from a distance • It is important that you include a description of clothing or other unique identifiers in the comment section to prevent duplication

22. Survey Instructions • County:__________: • In this section please list the County in which the count is taking place • Name of Agency: • Enter the name of the agency that is completing that specific survey • Contact Person: • Enter the name of the person completing the survey so that if a coordinator needs to follow up they can reach the person who filled it out • Telephone: • Enter the phone number of the person completing the survey • Please mark the method in which this survey was completed: • Mark which method was used to complete the survey – if you feel uncomfortable conducting a survey or going into a place in which homeless individuals/families are staying please fill out the rest of the survey to the best of your ability

23. Survey Questions • 1. Is this household: a single individual or part of a family unit? • Enter an “x” in the appropriate box for individual or family • If family, enter the number of adults and children • 2. What are the first three letters of the head of household’s last name? • This will be used to help avoid duplication in counting the same individual or family more than once • Please enter the first three letters of their last name • If you cannot enter this information be sure to provide unique descriptors and other comments at the bottom of the survey

24. Survey Questions (Continued) • 3. Please use a number to mark the number of persons that identify themselves as. Race and ethnicity must be estimated if unknown: • Adults are listed first; mark the number in each space for the adults for each category • The next line if for the children in the family; mark the number in the spaces provided for each category • The next row is for those who have an unknown age; mark the number in the spaces provided for each category • Please use numbers and not tally marks • 4. Please use a number to mark the number of person’s in each category. The age must be estimated if unknown.

25. Survey Questions (Continued) • 5. Where was this unsheltered homeless individual or family living on the date of the count? • Mark the box that best describes where they slept on the night of the count. • Only one box should be marked. • If they are staying with friends or family, that is “doubled-up” • 6. How long has the individual or family been homeless • Please mark the appropriate box • This will help in determining chronic homeless status • 7. How many times has the individual or family been homeless during the last three years? • Please mark the appropriate box • This will help in determining chronic homeless status

26. Survey Questions (Continued) • 8. What factors contributed to the household being homeless? • Please mark all that apply! • 9. Has anyone in the household ever been told by a professional that they have one of the following? • Please mark all that apply! • 10. Has the head of household served in the military? Has any other member of the household served in the military? • Please mark the appropriate answer • If you mark yes for any other member of the household they must be currently homeless with the family being counted • New this year you must answer if any of those who served where veterans and if so how many.

27. Additional Survey Questions • Additional comments/unique identifiers • Please be sure to include any unique identifiers to help avoid duplication • If they give any statements, you can write them in this section • Please mark the method in which the survey was completed: Face-to-face interview or observation/person refused survey • Please mark the appropriate box • If you did not ask the questions directly to the individual or family, mark the observation box • Were you able to provide social or housing services to this household? Yes or No • Please mark the appropriate box

28. Reminders for Counting • Please stay within your comfort level • We would like for each survey to be completed as fully as possible, but understand that we cannot ask volunteers to put themselves or others in danger or an uncomfortable setting • Respect the privacy and wishes of those being surveyed • Do not push to complete the survey with someone • You can complete the survey as best as possible with no interaction • Thank everyone for their time • Explain why we are completing the survey forms • Introduce yourself and explain why we are collecting this information • Be sure to explain that the information collected is confidential

29. What You Will Need • Flashlight • Cell phone • List of phone numbers • County Leader • MHDC staff • Other volunteers • Clipboard • Pens • Survey forms • Detail of what areas you will be counting • Comfortable shoes • Bottled water and snacks • Donations and local resource sheet to hand out

30. Questions/Side notes • When counting always be sure to go in groups or pairs, never go alone! • Be sure you sign a Volunteer Release Form and return it to your County Leader • Please get in touch with your County Leader if you have any questions • If you need further assistance contact Katie Buckner at MHDC. Telephone:816-759-7236 Email: kbuckner@mhdc.com