Oakland County human service agencies participating in national effort to count homeless

Natalie Broda - Digital First Media, FileFILE - Chris Perry, 53 and a homeless resident at the Hope Warming Center in Pontiac, stands outside the shelter on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018.

By Mark Cavitt, mcavitt@digitalfirstmedia.com, @MarkCavitt on Twitter

Multiple Oakland County human service agencies will be working to count the number of sheltered homeless individuals on Jan. 31.

The local count, which is part of the national Point-in-Time count, is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on an annual basis and provides a snapshot of homelessness in communities across the country.

Each count is planned, coordinated, and carried out locally. The count will include volunteers from various organizations around the county such as the Oakland Community Health Network as part of The Alliance for Housing of Oakland County.

Sheltered individuals, which includes those in emergency shelters, transitional housing, safe havens are counted on an annual basis. Unsheltered homeless individuals are counted every other year, as required by the federal government.

Rachel Densmore, Oakland Community Health Network service analyst, said improving the understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people affected by homelessness in the county is crucial in order to address the issue.

“The count provides key data that aids in serving people and taking steps towards ending homelessness,” said Densmore.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING

Members of the general public are welcome to participate in the Wednesday, Jan. 31, count.

Team leaders are selected prior to the count and are trained before recruiting volunteers to join their team. Each team of volunteers will be given a map to canvass for those who may be homeless.

Participation and engagement with local police departments is encouraged during the count. Care packages as well as resupport resources and to find shelters are given to the individuals identified as homeless.

There will be over 100 volunteers canvassing 28 regions within the county. That number increases to 200, which includes those who make the care packages and aid in other efforts.

You can contact Aburton-alliance@oaklandhomless.org for more information about the count itself or to volunteer.

ABOUT POINT-IN-TIME: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hdx/guides/pit-hic/