Institute for Community Alliances Julie Eberbach, Associate Director January 20, 11:00 AM January 21, 2:00 PM

General “Point In Time” Information Must be completed the last 10 days of January. Count of “sheltered persons” is now required annually. Housing Inventory must also be done annually. Count of unsheltered persons (Street Count) now required – but on a bi-annual basis. Iowa has elected to seek a street count annually.

2015 Essential Street Count Info Date: January 28, 2015 Definition: Individuals and families “with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground” on the night designated for the count. Recommended Count Methods: Known Locations/Public Places Service Based

Known Locations Identify known locations where one can expect to find unsheltered homeless people. Local communities should conduct reconnaissance in advance of the night of the count to determine the known locations where persons experiencing homelessness typically gather. Broad-based participation from stakeholders in your local community will result in a more effective count, increased coverage, and additional volunteers!

Known Locations Locations that should be included in your count: Parks Alleys Parking Lots and Ramps Public Transportation Systems Campgrounds Encampments, tent cities, shantytowns Under overpasses/bridges Libraries, Water Control Systems 24-Hour Commercial Establishments (i.e., laundromats, convenience stores, coffee shops, etc.

Planning Your Local Team Members of local coalitions for the homeless People who work with persons experiencing homelessness Outreach workers Emergency Shelter Staff Homeless Youth Providers VA Staff Human Service professionals Mental Health Staff Detox Program Staff Formerly or currently homeless individuals State or City Workers – in agencies supporting homeless services or housing

Planning Your Local Team Law Enforcement (e.g., police, sheriff, park rangers, etc.) Community Service Volunteers (AmeriCorps, etc.) Churches or other religious organizations College or University Students Neighborhood Associations Business Associations Veterans Administration Staff

Service Based Method Approach based on the understanding that some homeless who are not in shelter will nevertheless use other services. This method focuses on conducting interviews (including identifying information) with users of non-shelter services and locations frequented by people who are homeless. This method is particularly appropriate in jurisdictions that have few or no homeless specific programs. Service based counts can extend beyond the 1 day, since it may be that homeless persons may not access these services on a daily basis. But it may not extend beyond 7 days after the designated count night.

Service Based Method For Iowa, if your jurisdiction determines it will survey persons beyond the night of the count, the survey must include: the person’s name – which requires informed consent. This will prevent possible duplicate counting. Surveys beyond the night of the count must be completed by Saturday, January 31 st and establish that the person interviewed was on the street on the night of January 28 th. If you determine locally you will interview beyond the night of the count, please contact ICA for a detailed survey and release of information document.

Service Based Method Common locations for service based counts and surveys of unsheltered homeless people include: Outreach Programs Soup kitchens Food Pantries, Clothing Programs Health Care for the Homeless Sites, Public Health Departments, Community Health Clinics Community Action Partnership Agencies (CAPs) Social Human Service Agencies (Welfare, etc) Youth Drop-In Centers Day Labor Sites Day Shelters, Drop-in and Warming Centers Employment Centers Libraries Churches, and other religious institutions that provide homeless services

Offer Services Provide service, shelter and housing information Clinic hours Meal sites Shelter options PSH opportunities if available Provide incentives Cash cards from local gas stations Bottled water Hand/foot warmers Blankets Socks and/or non perishable food items

Counting Unsheltered Persons Street Count should be done within prescribed, time limited period. This can be locally determined. However, it is critical to note that the term ‘night’ signifies a single period of time from sunset to sunrise, which spans two actual dates. The ‘night of the count’ begins at sunset on the date of the count and ends at sunrise on the following day. 12:01 am January 28, :01 am January 29, 2015 Sunset – January 28, Sunrise - January 29, 2015 Follow up can be done if needed at a later time. Balance of State provides and recommends use of a survey. The date of the countThe night of the count

Household Types Persons in households with at least one adult and one child. This category includes households with one adult, especially noting adults age 18 – 25, and at least one child under age 18. Persons in households without children. This category includes single adults, adult couples with no children, and groups of adults. Persons in households with only children. This category includes persons under age 18, including children in one-child households, adolescent parents and their children, adolescent siblings, or other household configurations composed only of children. For households with only children CoCs must report both the number of one child households and the number of multi-child households.

Age Breakouts Persons in households with at least one adult and one child: The number of children under age 18; The number of adults ages 18 to 24; and The number of adults over age 24. Persons in households without children: The number of adults ages 18 to 24; and The number of adults over age 24

Subpopulation Details Subpopulation Data Chronically Homeless Individuals Chronically Homeless Families Chronically Homeless Veterans Adults with a Serious Mental Illness Adults with a Substance Abuse Disorder Adults with AIDS/HIV Victims of Domestic Violence

Demographic Detail Added demographic detail on all persons counted; Gender Race Ethnicity Detailed Veterans Data – no longer done as a general sub-population count. Household Types Gender Age Race Ethnicity

Chronic Homeless Assessment Please complete the three questions that determine chronic status for the individual or family: Disability of long duration Length of homeless episode Number of homeless episodes

Housing Needs Assessment Based on your assessment of the individual or family, please indicate which type of service will best resolve their homelessness Emergency Shelter – this event is a “one-time” event that will likely quickly be resolved with no “deeper” services required. Transitional Housing – this individual or household presents significant, but transient barriers that would be met in transitional housing. Permanent Supportive Housing – the household presents very significant and permanent barriers to independent living.

Street Count Reporting Deadlines Obtain the most amount of data possible. Our staff will assemble the summary data, without detail it will be difficult for us to reconcile. Forward all survey forms to our agency. Survey forms due to be turned in no later than: Monday, February 9, Survey forms should be scanned and ed to Julie Eberbach If you are not able to scan the forms, please fax or mail to: Julie Eberbach Institute for Community Alliances 1111 – 9 th Street, Suite 245 Des Moines, IA 50314

New This Year…HUD’s Mobile App! The PIT Mobile App has been licensed by HUD to support local communities who are conducting a PIT count! Download the App from Google Play or the App Store for an Android or Apple iOS powered device. Once you have downloaded the application, contact ICA at to get the “submit key” you will need to link your app to the IA-501 BOS Control Panel. You will select the type of household – unsheltered type only – you will be presented with a map to geo-code your location.

New This Year…HUD’s Mobile App! Once you have completed the survey and have internet connection you will “submit” the survey to our data repository. If you intend to use this, you should download the app now, get set up and practice completing surveys. All “practice” surveys – entered prior to midnight of January 28 th will be removed from the data base. General Mobile App Considerations: When you receive the key code from us – remember it is case sensitive. It will link you to our IA-501 BOS data repository. Please note that here are several questions that are not really needed to complete the data for the PIT count. Unfortunately, they are mixed in sequentially with some that are needed, so you will need to complete the entire survey if at all possible. The way the mobile survey asks about disability conditions, and then asks about whether any of the conditions impact their ability to secure housing may lead to errors. For example, I may respond that I do not have any of the disabilities listed, but then later say that my alcohol use impacts my ability to gain housing. We are not able to change this, so we ask that those using the app try to monitor this issue. Finally, I find the way they set up the drop down question response to be a little difficult – at least the way it works on my android phone. So…I suggest getting the app early and practicing with it! This will help you get accustomed to the interface.

Additional Resources

Questions? Contact… Julie Eberbach Institute for Community Alliances – Phone Fax