Point-In-Time Counting

1. Point-In-Time Counting A Community Guide for Statewide Results

2. Why Do We Count? To understand Community Needs HMIS (agency-based means of counting homeless and at-risk for homeless receiving services) To find who is not being served To find patterns of homelessness �by geography, age, disability or economic events� To dispel Myths To plan how we can end homelessness

3. Muskegon County Homeless Continuum of Care Network January 25, 2007 Return completed surveys to: Stacey Varela WMT/TLC 2333 Jarman Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 231-739-6840 Return by January 30, 2007 ** Please make sure to enclose all completed surveys in a manila envelope with your agency�s name and contact person identified on the front of the envelope.

4. Survey Tool Voluntary Review and Discuss Paper Survey Data Entry Plan

5. Definitions. . . HUD Homeless: Those living in emergency shelter and on the streets HUD Chronic Homeless: Those individuals over 18 that have had 4 or more homeless episodes in that last three years or 12 months consecutive homelessness with a disability including substance abuse, mental health or physical including a learning disorder only if receiving SSI.

6. Definitions. . . Emergency Shelter: A bed specifically dedicated to the provision of safe and decent short term/crisis shelter, with the intent to assist the consumer in returning to permanent housing or into transitional housing, as quickly as possible. Emergency shelter is typically provided in a congregate setting for not more than 30 days. Motel or hotel rooms and/or �emergency host homes� for youth may also be utilized to provide emergency shelter on a limited basis. Beds that are not counted as �emergency shelter� include: 1) Emergency psychiatric beds and 2) Beds in de-tox or short-term residential substance abuse treatment facilities (unless specifically funded as emergency shelter for homeless persons).

7. Definitions. . . Transitional Housing: A bed specifically dedicated to the provision of safe and decent interim housing with the intent to engage the consumer in support services that assist a return to permanent housing of one�s own choosing and facilitates resolution of self-identified barriers to housing stability. Transitional housing is typically provided both in scattered site and congregate units for not more than 24 months. Only those units that have been specifically identified by its primary funding sources as �transitional housing� should be counted in this category. Beds that are not counted as �transitional housing� include: 1) Beds in residential substance abuse treatment facilities (unless specifically funded as transitional housing for homeless persons), 2) Beds in half-way houses/probationary homes through DOC, and 3) Beds in short-term/residential psychiatric facilities.

8. Definitions. . . What is Supportive Housing? Supportive housing is permanent affordable housing linked to a range of comprehensive support services for persons experiencing persistent homelessness who face chronic mental health, substance abuse and other chronic health challenges. The essential features of supportive housing for this population are: 1) It is permanent 2) Services are voluntary and tenants choose as much or as little service as they desire 3) Persons have all the rights and obligations of tenants in market housing

9. MCHCCN Organizational Chart

10. Who is organizing this and what if we have questions? The local Continuum of Care (CoC) is the group of local agencies that have responsibility under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority (MSHDA) for helping the homeless and working towards preventing homelessness. Usually the CoC designates a lead agency to manage the details of the P-I-T Counting event � this is the HMIS System Administrator and members of the CoC Data Committee.

11. How can I help? There are many jobs involved in the P-I-T Count: Volunteer Recruiter or Trainer Interviewer (in the field) Recorder (in the field) Compiler (from the street count and the shelter count) Data Entry from the Survey Driver

12. Who Do We Count? Sheltered people who are off the streets in temporary emergency shelters, transitional shelters, domestic violence shelters or in permanent supportive housing. Unsheltered people who are �living� in places deemed not meant for human living: cars, campgrounds, streets, abandoned buildings, underground infrastructures. We are also looking for at-risk persons of all ages � who do we need to prepare for? Whoever requests our services on that day.

13. Who Does the Counts? Shelters have staff who count those sheltered on January 25, 2007. The Unsheltered are counted by community volunteers, service groups, human service agencies, law enforcement, church groups and people like you!

14. Important reminders The information collected cannot be traced back to the person as there is no identity that stays with the information. The only purpose in collecting any identity information is to prevent duplicate entries. A person approached does not have to complete the interview. ALL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED THE SAME FOR ALL INTERVIEWED.

15. May we ask questions not on the forms? It is permissible to add questions not on the Statewide P-I-T Counting forms, but it is not OK to remove questions. Keep in mind, the more questions, the more opportunity to make the information gathered confusing.

16. How are homeless people involved in this project? The CoC will find it helpful to involve the homeless individuals (who want to get involved) with help on how to best find and count the folks that are not sheltered. It is not OK to have the homeless persons complete the survey by themselves, as questions must all be asked the same way, and answers need to be recorded with consistency for data reliability.

17. What are you going to do with this information? We can better answer those who want to know �how many� �why�, �where� and �what is being done� about homelessness. People like: Lawmakers and newspapers Human Services Directors Foundations and Grant-makers Builders and Realtors Community Organizers City, County and Federal Programs Churches and Service groups�and Increase funding for the community And work with the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness

18. Who Wants to Know?! Employers and economists, and Most important -- people who are interested in solving the problems created when the community cannot provide enough support to keep people housed.

19. What are our Goals? Reach a 100% survey capacity Gain more knowledge on the needs of the indigent, homeless and couch surfing populations Increase community awareness of this population thus creating more support Move towards the solutions to eradicating homelessness and preventing future homeless episodes Improve the quality of life for individuals and the community

20. Thank You! If you speak with someone who would like to participate in this survey please pass along the information you received today If you would like to become involved in the CoC � meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 9:30am at United Way Offices � 313 W. Webster Road For more information, call Stacey Vandenberg at 739-6840 or Judy Kell at 724-6053

21. January 25, 2007 Can use the week of. . . Send completed surveys to: Stacey Varela WMT/TLC 2333 Jarman Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 231-739-6840 by January 30, 2007