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Organized by

The Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County

2013 Homeless Re-Count

Volunteer Training

Tampa/Hillsborough County Continuum of Care

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WHAT IS THE HOMELESS POINT IN TIME WHAT IS THE HOMELESS POINT IN TIME COUNT?COUNT?

“ “ the number of people who are the number of people who are homeless at a single point in t ime, homeless at a single point in t ime,

usually one day or one night” usually one day or one night” (Burt,1996).(Burt,1996).

Why are we doing a re-count?Why are we doing a re-count?

Special approval from the U.S. Department of Special approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been received for our community to do the been received for our community to do the recount.recount.The January homeless count produced an The January homeless count produced an unrealistic decrease in the literally homeless unrealistic decrease in the literally homeless population of Hillsborough county, showing a population of Hillsborough county, showing a nearly 50% overall decrease. Several reasons nearly 50% overall decrease. Several reasons have been identified as affecting the count data, have been identified as affecting the count data, including:including:

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encampments that were known to exist just weeks prior to encampments that were known to exist just weeks prior to the January count were abandoned and/or completely the January count were abandoned and/or completely gone; many of these areas also had newly posted no gone; many of these areas also had newly posted no trespassing signstrespassing signs

some individuals uncounted in January, refused to some individuals uncounted in January, refused to participate complete the survey, stating it was too long participate complete the survey, stating it was too long (the recount will utilize an abbreviated version of the (the recount will utilize an abbreviated version of the survey form)survey form)

front line service providers, when comparing data from front line service providers, when comparing data from January 2011 and January 2013 reported a slight January 2011 and January 2013 reported a slight decrease in demand for their services; but not anywhere decrease in demand for their services; but not anywhere near a 50% decrease.near a 50% decrease.

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Re- Count Continued

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SURVEY AREASSURVEY AREASAll of Hillsborough CountyAll of Hillsborough County

• The County is divided into four districtsThe County is divided into four districts• Each District will be divided into 4 Each District will be divided into 4

regions regions • Each region will be defined by streets Each region will be defined by streets

and landmarksand landmarks• Each region will have a deployment siteEach region will have a deployment site

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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTYHILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

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LOCATIONSLOCATIONS

• SheltersShelters• Service ProvidersService Providers• ChurchesChurches• Down TownDown Town• LibrariesLibraries• Day Labor SitesDay Labor Sites

• StreetsStreets• Parking LotsParking Lots• WoodsWoods• CampsCamps• Meal SitesMeal Sites

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METHODSMETHODS

• Physical CountPhysical Count

• Through InterviewThrough Interview

• Data AnalysisData Analysis

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PROCEDURESPROCEDURES• Survey TeamsSurvey Teams

• Deployment CentersDeployment Centers

• Guides (when numbers allow)Guides (when numbers allow)

• CountCount

• SurveysSurveys

• Command CenterCommand Center

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LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS

The primary limitation of this method is The primary limitation of this method is under-counting, for it is nearly impossible under-counting, for it is nearly impossible to count ALL of the homeless people in a to count ALL of the homeless people in a community in one day. community in one day.

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INTERVIEWER GUIDELINESINTERVIEWER GUIDELINES

• Informal, flexible, sensitive, and objectiveInformal, flexible, sensitive, and objective• Friendly conversational toneFriendly conversational tone• Assurance of confidentialityAssurance of confidentiality• Follow survey wordingFollow survey wording• Explain questionsExplain questions• Personal safetyPersonal safety

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HUD DEFINITIONHUD DEFINITION

• sleeping in an emergency shelter; sleeping in an emergency shelter; • sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as

cars, parks, sidewalks, or abandoned or condemned cars, parks, sidewalks, or abandoned or condemned buildings; buildings;

• spending a short time (30 consecutive days or less) in a spending a short time (30 consecutive days or less) in a hospital or other institution, but ordinarily sleeping in the types hospital or other institution, but ordinarily sleeping in the types of places mentioned above; of places mentioned above;

• living in transitional/supportive housing but having come from living in transitional/supportive housing but having come from streets or emergency shelters; streets or emergency shelters;

• being evicted within a week from a private dwelling unit and being evicted within a week from a private dwelling unit and having no subsequent residence identified and lacking the having no subsequent residence identified and lacking the resources and support networks needed to obtain access to resources and support networks needed to obtain access to housing; or housing; or

• being discharged from an institution and having no being discharged from an institution and having no subsequent residence identified and lacking the resources subsequent residence identified and lacking the resources and support networks needed to obtain access to housing. and support networks needed to obtain access to housing.

A person is considered homeless only when he/she resides in one of the places described below:

Chronic HomelessChronic Homeless

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term `chronically homeless' means, with respect to an individual or family, that the individual or family—

(i) is homeless and lives or resides in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter;

(ii) has been homeless and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter continuously for at least 1 year or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years; and

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Chronic Homeless ContChronic Homeless Cont

(iii) has an adult head of household (or a minor head of household if no adult is present in the household) with a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, post traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairments resulting from a brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability, including the co-occurrence of 2 or more of those conditions.

(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—A person who currently lives or resides in an institutional care facility, including a jail, substance abuse or mental health treatment facility, hospital or other similar facility, and has resided there for fewer than 90 days shall be considered chronically homeless if such person met all of the requirements described in subparagraph (A) prior to entering that facility. 1717

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WHO NOT TO COUNT:

1.1. Anyone with a f ixed regular night Anyone with a f ixed regular night t ime residence including - Formerly t ime residence including - Formerly homeless, residing in Section 8 homeless, residing in Section 8 SRO, Shelter Plus Care, SRO, Shelter Plus Care, Permanent HousingPermanent Housing

2.2. Children or Youth residing in foster Children or Youth residing in foster care or group homes.care or group homes.

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DATE & TIMEDATE & TIME

Volunteers will conduct the Survey onVolunteers will conduct the Survey onTuesday – April 09, 2013Tuesday – April 09, 2013

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

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HOW TO STAY INVOLVED HOW TO STAY INVOLVED

Visit our web siteVisit our web site

www.homelessofhc.orgwww.homelessofhc.org

For a list of CoalitionFor a list of CoalitionMember AgenciesMember Agencies

And ContactsAnd Contacts