West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness

Balance of State Continuum of Care

2011 Point in Time Count

Training
What is the PIT
A count of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless
people in the United States.
The unsheltered count is mandated every other year by
HUD and 2011 is one of those years.
WV conducts the sheltered and unsheltered PIT
annually.
Vital to assessing the level of need for homeless
services and “painting a picture” of homelessness in
the Balance of State.
PIT
Why
When
Who
Purpose
Challenges
Geography
Area
Rural vs. some
urban
NIMBYism
Uniformity
WV Balance of State CoC
Definition of Homelessness
Staying in a homeless shelter or transitional housing
facility
Staying on the street, in a place not meant for human
habitation
Staying in an institution, for at least 30 days, that
provides a temporary residence for individuals
intended to be institutionalized and was homeless prior
to entering the institution
Chronic Homeless
 Chronically Homeless Person or Family. An
unaccompanied homeless individual (18 or older) with
a disabling condition or a family with at least one adult
member (18 or older) who has a disabling condition
who has either been continuously homeless for a year
or more OR has had at least four (4) episodes of
homelessness in the past three (3) years.
HEARTH Expanded Definition
HEARTH (Homeless Emergency Assistance and
Rapid Transition to Housing) Act will expand the
definition of homelessness to include those who are
precariously housed
It will also include families who are unstably housed
and likely to continue in that state.
We aim to capture this population through our 2011
PIT
Housing Instability
Only families and unaccompanied youth will fit this
definition
Families with children defined as homeless under
other federal statutes, have not had own housing in the
91 days prior to applying for assistance or have moved
3 or more times in the past 90 days and who are likely
to continue to be unstably housed because of disability
or multiple barriers to employment.
Additional HEARTH Information
Chronically homeless families
Unaccompanied children
Veterans
Precariously Housed
Persons who will be losing their residence AND lack
the resources to remain in their housing, or obtain
housing
Persons on the edge of homelessness
Doubled-up/Tripled-up
Hotel/Motel (not voucher funded)
Facing eviction or foreclosure within 14 days
Also includes persons who are living in substandard
housing
Sheltered Data Collection Methods
Sheltered
Who:
 Emergency Shelter (facility, voucher, HPRP funded Hotel/Motel
Vouchers, or victim of natural disaster in program funded
hotel/motels)
 Transitional Housing Programs
 Institutions, if they have resided in the institution for 30 days or
more and were homeless prior to entry into the institution.
Updated HIC
HMIS Entry
Survey Form
Unsheltered Data Collection Methods
Street Count/Public Places Count
Service-Based Screening/Interview
Some combination of both methods
Secure government support
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_unshelter
ed.pdf
Survey Form – Sheltered and Unsheltered
Observation Only
Used ONLY for the following purposes for people who
appear to be homeless:
Person refuses the survey
Person is sleeping
Person presents a communication barrier

Observation Only Tool

Sample Forms
Press Release
Notice to Law Enforcement
Notice to Business Establishments
Volunteer Release and Confidentiality Form
Planning Tips
Determine methodology that works for YOUR
community
Obtain local government support
Utilize the homeless, formerly homeless (Permanent
Supportive Housing participants), college/university
groups, law enforcement, homeless education liaisons)
Care packages/incentives
Contingency plan!
Who to involve as volunteers for Unsheltered
Count
Homeless and Formerly Homeless
College and Universities
Faith based community
Law enforcement agencies
McKinney Homeless Education Liaisons
Where to find the unsheltered
Soup kitchen
Truck stops
National Forest/campgrounds
All-night diners/coffee shops
Libraries
Abandoned buildings
Rest areas
Truck stops
Where to find the “precariously housed” or
those residing in substandard housing
Magistrate court – “evictions day”
DHHR offices
HUD – waiting lists for Public Housing/Section 8
VAs
Family Resource Networks
Food Pantries
Faith Community
Provide Incentives, Items & Services
Volunteers
Survey participants
WVCEH budget $100-$300
Safety Awareness
Groups
Pre-designate areas
Cell phone, flashlight, whistle
Comfortable shoes, rain gear, warm clothing
“No means NO”
After the count
ALL data collection forms must be returned to the
WVCEH by February 11, 2011
Shelters will fill out Shelter Tally Form and return with
their shelter resident surveys
WVCEH will enter data into a subsection of HMIS
and distribute data to communities
WVCEH will produce a Homeless Report for the
Balance of State CoC. This report should be available
by late spring 2011.
 Resources
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_unsheltered.pdf
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2011PITGuidance.pdf
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/PIT_LetsMakeEveryoneCo
unt_12.9.10.pdf
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2011PITVetGuidance.pdf
http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2011PITYouthGuidance.pd
f
www.hudhre.info
www.endhomelessness.org
Questions?
 Amanda Sisson
HMIS Data Coordinator and Trainer
WV Coalition to End Homelessness
160 John Street
Weston, WV 26452
304-269-8600 (office)
304-641-8557 (cell)
amandasisson@wvendhomelessness.org