Including Youth in Your Community’s Point-in-Time Count, Part 1

A National Priority Barbara Poppe, Executive Director, US Interagency Council on Homelessness

A National Priority Nan Roman President and CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness

What is a Point-in-Time Count? Part 1: Homeless Population Sheltered Unsheltered Total Emergency Transitional Number of Families with Children (Family Households): 1. Number of Persons in Families with Children 2. Number of Single Individuals and Persons in Households without Children (Add Lines Numbered 1 & 2) Part 2: Homeless Subpopulations a. Chronically Homeless b. Severely Mentally Ill c. Chronic Substance Abuse d. Veterans e. Persons with HIV/AIDS f. Victims of Domestic Violence g. Unaccompanied Youth (Under 18)

The Youth Gap CoC Number Sheltered Unsheltered Total 4 9 41

Why are Point-in-Time Counts Important? Total amount of federal and local funds. Distribution of federal and local funds Program model decisions Point in Time Data: Scale of homelessness Concentration of homelessness Measures effectiveness of programs and policies

Counting Homeless Youth in Your Community

NOW: Ensure the CoC’s PIT plan includes youth Recruit organizations serving homeless youth and currently and formerly homeless youth to inform strategic planning. Identify lead person or organization to develop and coordinate “youth-focused” strategy. Develop materials to educate youth and community about purpose of PIT Count. Modify existing planned data collection method or instrument if needed.

Step 2: Map out locations and sources of data collection. Identify all stakeholders that may encounter or serve unaccompanied, homeless youth. Identify locations where homeless youth who are not regularly receivi9ng services may congregate. Recruit homeless education liaisons and/or others in the public school system, local police, and other public agencies that may serve or temporarily detain homeless youth.

Step 3: Facilitate collection of data. Identify knowledgeable volunteers and practitioners to act as leads in collecting data. Ensure volunteers collect data throughout day and evening. Locations should be surveyed multiple times throughout the day.

Step 4: Promote the quality of data gathered. Host a training on PIT survey protocols for volunteers. Ensure consistent definitions of various living situations to record accurate responses. Address mandated reporter issues for youth under the age of 18.

Step 5: Analyze data on youth homelessness. Recruit skilled researchers and writers to assist with data analysis and report findings from the survey. Step 6: USE PIT findings to educate policy makers and the public about youth homelessness in your community.

Resources For all of the documents discussed on today’s webinar, visit: http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/3502 Alliance Families and Youth Contacts Sharon McDonald smcdonald@naeh.org André Wade awade@naeh.org Samantha Batko sbatko@naeh.org

Counting Homeless Youth Webinar Series November 17, 2010 @ 2 pm ET: Including Youth in Point-in-Time Counts, Part 2: A Case Study of San Jose, CA Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/487542858 Including Youth in Point-in-Time Counts Part 3: Community Lessons Learned To be held shortly after Thanksgiving