If you want to make a difference in your community right away in the new year, 400 volunteers are needed from Tuesday, January 23rd through Wednesday, January 24th and Saturday, January 28 to count people experiencing homelessness during a 24-hour period. Collecting data on homelessness and tracking progress can inform public opinion, increase public awareness, and attract resources that will lead to the eradication of the problem.

Volunteers should be prepared to:

Walk one or two miles unassisted.

Be able to stand for long periods of time.

Search for unsheltered homeless within designated location.

Review data collection form prior to the count and become familiar with the questions.

Return all survey forms (completed and otherwise) to designated team leader

Shifts are available in the below slots:

Every volunteer is required to go through training/orientation unless they have participated in the Count within the past 2 years. Volunteers can Volunteers can register here for shifts.

About the Initiative

The Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership, in collaboration with the Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and Nova Southeastern University, is seeking assistance with the 2018 Homeless Point-in-Time Count Survey and Built for Zero 2018 Registry.

Point-in-time counts are important because they establish the dimensions of the problem of homelessness and help policymakers and program administrators track progress toward the goal of ending homelessness. Data has been collected for the last 12 years since January 2005.

HUD uses information from the local point-in-time counts, among other data sources, in the congressionally-mandated Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (AHAR). This report is meant to inform Congress about the number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. and the effectiveness of HUD’s programs and policies in decreasing those numbers.

On the local level, point-in-time counts help communities plan services and programs to appropriately address local needs, measure progress in decreasing homelessness, and identify strengths and gaps in a community’s current homelessness assistance system.

The count includes both sheltered and unsheltered homeless. Volunteers are required to attend an orientation session that will cover survey tools, enumerator training, safety and coordination procedures and regulations.

To register please visit the Broward Point-in-Time website (http://www.browardpointintime.org/) and select “Get Involved.” For additional volunteer information, please email [email protected].