The following is a release from Snohomish County:
In collaboration with human service providers and community volunteers, the Snohomish County Department of Human Services is conducting the annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 . The annual count is an important tool in the community’s efforts to assess the number of homeless individuals and families in Snohomish County, as well as to determine ways of ending homelessness. The count covers people staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and on the street or other places not meant for habitation. Volunteers are needed across the County between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Human service providers, County staff, and community volunteers will join together in this effort to respectfully count the number of families and individuals who are homeless in our community. The results of the count will help ensure that vital federal and state funding continues to come into the community to fight homelessness. Data from the annual count is also used to help understand how widespread homelessness is in Snohomish County and who is most affected. The Point-In-Time Count is only a count of who is homeless at one particular time. By itself, it is not a predictor of how many people will be homeless or receive housing resources throughout the rest of the year, but when used along with other data, can help paint a picture of the need and how well we as a community are doing in efforts to address the problem of homelessness. Priorities for state and national funding and planning for local programs and systems are based on Point-in-Time data.
“I encourage the community to help with this important yearly effort,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Homelessness and associated issues of drug addiction and inadequate mental health care continue to cause the most vulnerable among us to suffer. Veterans, families, and our elderly deserve as much help as we can muster, and the Point-In-Time Count will help us determine how best to serve their needs.”
During the 2016 count, 471 individuals in 410 households reported they were unsheltered. Another 489 persons in 339 households were without a permanent place to stay and were temporarily housed in emergency shelter or transitional housing. There were 58 veterans, 239 chronically homeless individuals and the age of homeless persons ranged from 44 days to 91 years old.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a three-hour period during the Jan. 24th count. All training and materials will be provided at the sites specified below. To volunteer or for more information, please contact one of the area leads below:
- Central County Danielle Robeday – daniellero@ccsww.org or 425-374-6328
- North County Alex Lark – alexanderlark@housinghope.org
- East County Janos Kendall – janos@ttns.org or 360-794-1022
- South County Nora Karena – nkarena@ywcaworks.org or 425-774-9843 x236
- Youth Claire Petersen – Claire.petersen@cocoonhouse.org or 425-259-5802 x129
Emphasis on the Point in Time Count began in 2006, with the County’s approval of the local homeless plan that included strategies for ending homelessness. While noteworthy progress has been made, there still remains a daunting effort ahead to provide solutions for people experiencing and at imminent risk of homelessness.
More information on the PIT history and methodology may be found on the Human Services Point in Time Count webpage: http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/2857/Point-In-Time.
For more detailed information on the count, contact Robin Hood at 425-388-7266.
