By Kathy Chouteau
Contra Costa’s Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) is calling for volunteers to help identify people experiencing unsheltered homelessness for its 2022 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Thurs., Feb. 24 from 5-10 a.m.
This time of year, the COC and community volunteers team up to do a comprehensive PIT Count of families and individuals experiencing homelessness, according to the County. Info is gathered regarding people sleeping in emergency shelters and transitional housing and also those sleeping in cars, abandoned properties “and other places not meant for human habitation.”
County officials added that the PIT Count provides “a one-day snapshot of homelessness” and includes crucial data “about families, youth, chronically homeless, veterans, as well as gender, ethnicity and race.”
For the PIT Count, the County seeks volunteer teams of two-to-three people who are comfortable in a “pod” while riding in a car or walking together to help with the unsheltered count on an assigned route, said officials. The PIT Count will be completed through observation only and the data gathering will occur via a downloaded app on people’s smart phones.
Volunteer training will take place virtually and volunteers will be self-deploying to their assigned routes on the morning of Feb. 24 with an eye toward COVID-19 safety, said the County.
To sign-up to volunteer for the PIT Count, click here to complete a related survey. Questions about volunteering can be directed to [email protected].
