Volunteer for 2017 Homeless Census

Homeless Census 2016: training session

Volunteers needed: YOU CAN HELP!

PIT Volunteers: On Thursday night, January 21, 2016, 8:00pm–1:00am, the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) will be conducting its annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count. The Count, a requirement under federal law, helps communities and the nation as a whole, identify and understand the extent and nature of homelessness, changing trends in this area, and the measure of our success in ending homelessness.

Results of the Count will be shared with the community during the “State of the Homeless Address” in March 2016. That night volunteers will fan out from a number of staging areas, across Dallas County, to count the unsheltered homeless, while partner agencies will count the sheltered homeless.

The volunteers will follow routes created with geographic information system (GIS) mapping software, canvassing under bridges, in parks, in cars, and in (safe to investigate) wooded areas and abandoned buildings, as well as other areas where persons may be seeking shelter from the cold. In order to conduct a full and accurate count of the unsheltered homeless, MDHA will need 750 volunteers, registered as teams of 3-5 persons. MDHA is actively seeking the help of the community in recruiting volunteers.

Please help us by posting the attached ad in as many places, as possible. This event, which requires a 4-6 hour one time commitment, makes for an excellent short term service project for congregations, companies, non-profits, service organizations, and neighborhood associations.

Advance online and on-site training will be provided. To sign up, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DallasPIT.

For more information, go to: www.mdhadallas.org/2016-homeless-count/.
David S. Gruber
Development and Communications Director
Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance
O: 972-638-5603
C: 469-222-0047
David.Gruber@mdhadallas.org

End Homelessness – Support MDHA - www.mdhadallas.org 2816 Swiss Avenue Dallas, TX 75204

Counting misery

Two weeks ago Thursday evening, over 100 concerned citizens fanned out across Dallas, like their peers and counterparts in cities all over the nation, to participate in what's called "the point in time census" of our neighbors who have no place to call home.  The annual "snap shot" count provides a baseline number that becomes useful in year-to-year planning and understanding of the scope and scale of the challenges of homelessness in the United States.  The census never provides an accurate. full count--we know there are more people dealing with homelessness than we ever manage to account for.  But, the count does allow us to understand more about trend lines and changes among the most miserable of our fellow human beings.

CitySquare sent a team to work on the project.  About 20 of us took our assignment to survey/interview anyone we found on Louise Street or its environs.  We know this part of town, the Opportunity Center sits right in the middle of the neighborhood. 

The night was bitter cold and wet.  This will likely be good for the final tally, as most folks found places inside to spend the night.  Local shelters open their doors wider, and some find places to spend the night with friends.  Since the census documents the presence of all in shelters, it drives the count up, though we have no way to count folks who find places inside with friends or family. 

Help with annual homeless census

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Gruber, Development Manager, MDHA

469-222-0047, David.Gruber@mdhadallas.org 

 

2015 Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count

This Thursday, January 22, 2015

 

Dallas, Texas – If you happen to be standing in front of Dallas City Hall this coming Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 5pm, you will see an interesting sight. A few hundred people will gather in front of the building, only to then fan out into the night. Their mission? To count and survey those in our community who are experiencing homelessness. The Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count in Dallas is conducted by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA), and is a requirement under U.S. Law. 

 

In fact, during the final ten days of January such counts will take place in every community across our nation. The PIT, which occurs every year, allows communities and the nation as whole to track progress towards ending homelessness, and gather vital data about the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Dallas and the nation as a whole are committed to ending veteran homelessness this year and chronic homelessness next year.

 

Here in Dallas, MDHA’s grantees and partner agencies count guests and residents in shelters and housing sites, while the above mentioned community volunteers, escorted by Dallas police officers, locate and count those living elsewhere. Similar counts are conducted the same night by the Collin County Homeless Coalition and by the cities of Garland, Irving and Mesquite, who are all part the Dallas area Continuum of Care organization, which is led by MDHA.

 

MDHA still needs volunteers for this huge operation, which in Dallas is subsidized by the Real Estate Council Foundation. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, should wear clothing appropriate for the weather and comfortable shoes, and bring a flashlight, a pen, and a clipboard.

 

SIGN UP HERE TO TODAY TO VOLUNTEER:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a4ea8ae2aa02-2015

 

For questions, contact Shavon Moore, at shavon.moore@mdhadallas.org or 972.638.5627  

 

Edd's reflection on 2013 homeless census. . .

[I'm privileged to work with some of the finest people in the world every day.  None finer than Edd Eason.  

Edd and I go back a long, long way.  We were in college together 44 years ago!  Edd and I served the same church in Richardson for 14 years.  We've been blessed to have Edd here at CitySquare over many years.  Whatever Edd puts his hand to turns out to benefit everyone around him.  

He sent me the following reflection on the annual "point in time census" of our homeless neighbors that took place in late January here in Dallas.  LJ]

There were about 8 -10 of us last night at the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) homeless census. All of the CitySquare Homeless Outreach Team, plus Steven Arias and I from Project Access Dallas.

Very interesting activity.

I spent about 4 hours at The Bridge interviewing homeless people. 

I’d recommend everyone at CitySquare do this at some point in their career. 

It’s best thing I've ever done to “put a face on homelessness.” It’s one thing to face homelessness individually out in our neighborhoods.  It’s quite another to face up with homeless folks one after another for 4 straight hours.

At the end of each interview volunteers ask, “What are the five most important things you need right now?” 

Overwhelmingly, the number one answer is “a home.”

I visited with a man who had been homeless off and on for 27 years. 

Recently, he had been moved to one of the transitional units at The Bridge. He told me he had been sober for 10 months and was beginning to lose the cravings for alcohol for the first time in his life. 

I showed him a list of 20 + things to choose from - things like money, transportation, substance abuse treatment, medical/dental care, etc. For his list of 5 things his number one response was “a place of my own.”

Most folks assume that a man who had lived in emergency shelters for 27 years would have adjusted to that reality and would have given up on having “a place of his own.” 

Just goes to show that changing the trajectory of people's lives sometimes is as simple, and as challenging, as continuing to provide opportunity and support until a person is ready to make changes.

Edd

2013 Homeless Count and Census

2013 Homeless Count and Census

It is once again time to conduct the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) annual homeless count and census. The census is conducted each year in the last ten days of January so that Dallas and Collin Counties can collect information on homeless residents.

With MDHA's renewed commitment to end Chronic Homelessness by 2015 and the Homeless Count and Census allows us to monitor our progress in achieving this goal. The Census helps us to complete a needs assessment for the community and encourage the development of programs to fill identified gaps. The information compiled during the census is also used by several other interested groups, including non-profit organizations, faith-based groups, media outlets and various departments in Federal, State and local government.

DATE:                          Thursday, January 24, 2013

 TIME:                           5:00 P.M. sign-in

SIGN-IN TRAINING LOCATION - New: Dallas City Hall – Cafeteria 7^th Floor – Supper will be available

SURVEY RETURN LOCATION:   L 1 F North Auditorium-Dallas City Hall

HOW TO HELP: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.  Those conducting the census should remember to wear clothing appropriate to the weather, comfortable shoes, bring a flashlight, writing pen, and clipboard.

                                   

Indoor Volunteer Team Member: Conducts the Homeless survey in an indoor location, such as an Emergency Shelter or Transitional Housing facility. Law enforcement professionals are not assigned to these teams, but a staff contact will be provided for teams who visit these locations and agency staff will be present.

Outdoor Volunteer Team Member: Conducts the survey outdoors in teams of two or three. Law enforcement personnel are assigned to each team for safety reasons. 

Setup and Sign-In Volunteers: At 4:00 P.M. on January 24, help setup the location and/or assist with sign-in and distribution of materials to all volunteers.

Data Entry Volunteers:  During the month of February fifteen days are scheduled for data entry.  If you are interested in assisting with this day-time opportunity; a schedule of dates and times will be emailed to you to register for one or more of the three-hour work sessions.

Training

Training on how to conduct the census will be provided for volunteers on the night of the Count. Volunteers will sign-in from 5:00 – 5:45 p.m., and training will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. in the 7^th Floor Cafeteria.

Contact Information

Thank you for your interest! In order to volunteer or to receive more Information, please contact Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance at Phone: 972-638-5627 or E-mail: Shavon.Moore@MDHADallas.org