Missouri Balance of State Point-in-Time Count

1. Missouri Balance of State Point-in-Time Count Leader Guidance Unsheltered Count Winter 2014

2. What is a Point-in-Time Count? • The Point-in-Time count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night. HUD requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of homeless persons who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. Continuums of Care also must conduct a count of unsheltered homeless persons every other year (in odd numbered years). • The Missouri Balance of State (BoS) CoC conducts a sheltered and unsheltered count in the 101 counties of the balance of state twice a year in order to track the seasonal trends in the homeless population, and to get amore accurate picture of the homeless situation in the state.

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? • 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’d • 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 versus winter seasons • Incorporate homelessness awareness and education in the community twice a year • Creates an opportunity to reach out to individuals and family

8. Methods for Counting Unsheltered • Simple Street Count for Observations • Street Count Plus Interviews • Service-based Count

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. County Leader Responsibilities • Leaders take responsibility for the data collection process for their county • Duties include: • Solicit volunteers to assist with the count and turn in signed Volunteer Release Forms • Delegate duties to volunteers • Train the volunteers on how to count and complete surveys • Map out areas to conduct the count • Assign team volunteers to mapped areas of the county to complete surveys • Contact agencies for “service-based” portion • Collect surveys, review forms to ensure they are complete, remove duplicate forms and send to Community Initiatives Coordinator along with the Preliminary PIT results form #309. Forms should either be scanned and emailed to MHDC or should be mailed to MHDC. Please do not fax forms!

14. County Leader Responsibility (Cont) • Optional leader responsibilities • Coordinate donation distribution • Create resource sheet to hand out during the count • Ensure that services are in place for the night of the count • Work with the community to collect any additional data important to local providers

15. Where to Solicit Volunteers? • Colleges/Universities • Homeless liaison with school district • Public assistance offices • Youth outreach workers • Local law enforcement • Churches • Formerly homeless individuals and families • Friends and family • Social service agencies

16. 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

17. 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 the days leading up to 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

18. Documents to Help with the Count • Forms and letters provided to County Leaders • Volunteer Release Forms • Survey Form (Form #308) and Survey Instructions • Power Point training for volunteers • Preliminary PIT results (Form #309) • Forms provided if requested • Media release • Donation Request Letter • Letters to businesses

19. New This Count • New HUD requirement • Beginning in 2014, CoCs will be required to report race, ethnicity, and gender data for all persons counted

20. Form Deadlines • Completed Volunteer Release Forms must be post marked to Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) by 4:30PM of the day after the count and must be originals • Completed survey forms along with the preliminary PIT Results (form #309) must be submitted to MHDC no later than February 14, 2014 • Surveys can be mailed or scanned and emailed to your Community Initiatives Coordinator at MHDC • DO NOT FAX FORMS • It is the responsibility of the leader to follow up to be sure surveys were received and to keep copies of the surveys until the report is published

21. Contact Information • MHDC, Attention: Katie Buckner • Address: 3435 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111 • Phone: 816-759-7236 • Email: kbuckner@mhdc.com • Fax: DO NOT FAX FORMS

22. Where to Find Forms • All forms are located on the Governor’s Committee to End Homelessness’ website at: • http://www.mo-ich.org/14.html