1. Point In Time Count 2015 Volunteer Training South Carolina Coalition for the Homeless

2. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Introductions Introductions Name and County Employer and Position Count Experience or Experience with Homelessness

3. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Why PIT Count? Why PIT Count? Better understand the size and scope of homelessness and how it shifts over time Improve services and identify gaps Use data to justify new services/programs Public education and advocacy efforts

4. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Who We Count Who We Count Sheltered Homeless Emergency shelters, transitional housing, rescue missions, and seasonal shelters Domestic violence shelters (Kept Confidential) Hotel or motel paid for by public or private funds in lieu of a shelter bed

5. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Who We Count Who We Count Unsheltered Homeless Places not meant for human habitation: Cars Under bridges Tents Abandoned or inadequate buildings Public restrooms Garages Streets

6. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Subpopulations Subpopulations To better serve persons experiencing homelessness, it’s important to understand: Serious and Persistent Mental Illness Substance Abuse HIV/AIDS Severe Mental Illness Veterans Status HIV/AIDS Domestic Violence Length of Homelessness

7. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts 2015 PIT Strategies 2015 PIT Strategies Sheltered Count: HMIS (no interview needed) Paper surveys for shelters that do not use HMIS Unsheltered Count: Paper surveys through one-on-one interactions with persons at: Pre-scouted and other known locations where people are living unsheltered Service sites

8. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts State-Wide Effort State-Wide Effort

9. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts 2014 PIT Count 2014 PIT Count State Total: 5040 Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Unsheltered Emergency Shelter: 1781Transitional Housing: 1453Unsheltered: 1806 16% From 2013

10. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts New In 2015 New In 2015 Compassionate, participant focus Common Assessment to connect persons with housing services

11. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Initiating the Interaction Initiating the Interaction Initiating the conversation is very important Introduce yourself and be respectful, calm Speak clearly Explain the PIT Count Project and why you are counting

12. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Initiating the Interaction Initiating the Interaction Explain the PIT and Why You are Counting “Hi, I’m Tom, a volunteer with the PIT Count. Have you heard of that before?” “Every year area service providers and volunteers try to learn more about persons who do/did not have a place to stay tonight/January 28th. Is it OK to explain a few things and then ask you some questions?” “Do you have a hard time finding your own place to stay?”

13. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts While Interviewing While Interviewing Practice and feel comfortable with questions Repeat/explain questions if necessary Don’t Judge – yourself or others, avoid language like “That’s terrible” “Oh my God” etc. Instead use “I see” or “OK, can you tell me more about….” etc. Try to avoid Don’t Know / Refused

14. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts After the Interaction After the Interaction Thank the participant Offer incentive packs or provide information Put the form in a safe place Keep interviewing and return all forms to county coordinator(s) w/in 24 hours

15. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Helping Someone Helping Someone Information = access to sustainable help Recommended that volunteers do not carry money with them, or give money away Putting someone in need in front of a knowledgeable provider is more valuable

16. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Helping Someone Helping Someone

17. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument

18. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument Capture ZIP Code for the location where you are completing surveys Length of time homeless and episodes of homelessness may require further clarification An episode = stably housed, then experienced homelessness

19. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument

20. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument SSN NOT REQUIRED Full name is excellent, initials and DOB is minimum requirement to include in our official numbers If a participant insists on not providing any name information, use: First Name: “ANON” Last Name: Your initials plus digits 1-9 Example: if Joe Smith is interviewer, then names would be: ANON JS1 ANON JS2 ANON JS3 Etc.

21. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument

22. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument

23. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts The Instrument The Instrument

24. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Practice! Practice! Yolanda H. Peterson is a white non-Hispanic woman, born 7/17/1956 who has been sleeping on her sister’s couch for the last three days. She doesn’t think she will be able to stay for more than a month. She and her 12 year old son were evicted from her apartment in Columbia three weeks ago at which time they were living on the streets. She and her son went to stay with her sister on January 29th. She has a history of alcohol and substance abuse. She is doing better now, having been clean for 9 months and is seeing a psychiatrist at a local clinic, where she receives treatment for depression. She is not HIV positive and has never served in the military. This is the first time she has been homeless since 1970 when she left her husband because of domestic abuse.

25. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Practice! Practice! Daniel B. Stevens is an Asian Hispanic/Latino man born 5/3/1980 who has been homeless for the past year or so, but this is his first episode of homelessness. He had been sleeping on friends’ couches for a few months but now has been living on the streets for the past six months. He has no children or spouse. He became homeless because he lost his job and then couldn’t keep up his rent payments so began staying at friends’ apartments. He began using drugs and alcohol a few months ago which has led to him no longer being allowed to stay with friends. His health has continued to deter ever since living on the streets, but doesn’t stay at shelters because they require sobriety. He served in the military 4 years ago.

26. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Count Safety Count Safety Stay with your team Make sure you understand the plan for the event If you have questions about it, ask the team leader Know your fellow volunteer’s and team leader’s contact information

27. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Count Gear Count Gear Pens Clipboards Plenty of count forms Backpack or other safe place to store forms Volunteer team roster and contact list Charged cell phone Adequate clothing

28. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts Q & A Q & A QUESTIONS?

29. Everyone Counts Everyone Counts THANK YOU!