MAG Point-In-Time Homeless Street Count

• The PIT count is an effort to learn more about the individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. In order to accomplish community goals and make a difference in the lives of homeless men, women, children, we first need to know who they are, where they are, and better understand the factors that led to their homelessness.
• Raise Awareness on the Issue:  The PIT count will bring together community leaders, volunteers and persons experiencing homelessness on one night with a common goal of better understanding the extent of homelessness in our community. This unique opportunity will increase awareness of homelessness and create a venue to drive further discussion and engagement toward ending homelessness.
• Garner necessary resources to address the issue: Our community relies on federal, state, and local funding to support a wide range of housing and services for homeless individuals and families. Communities that receive federal funding for homeless assistance from The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are required to conduct a comprehensive PIT count during the last ten days of January. In addition to fulfilling federal requirements, the PIT count helps local governments and nonprofits more effectively allocate resources necessary to meet the needs of the homeless population in the community.

Volunteers will be deployed in groups of two or three to count and interview homeless individuals and families in specific geographic areas throughout the County. You will be responsible for covering your assigned geographic area, completing a brief survey with each homeless person you encounter in your assigned area, and submitting the completed survey materials as directed. You will be outside counting and interviewing for up to four hours, depending on how long it takes to cover your assigned area. 

Volunteers will be required to attend a volunteer training session prior to the count to be trained on how to properly count and interview people experiencing homelessness. Please see below for the remaining training opportunities. All materials necessary to complete the count will be provided to volunteers.

Training Sessions

• Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 3:30 p.m. - City of Mesa Upper Council Chambers, 57 E. 1st Street, Mesa, 85201
• Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 5:30 p.m. - City of Mesa Upper Council Chambers, 57 E. 1st Street, Mesa, 85201
  
• Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 1:30 p.m - Avondale Resource Center, 328 W. Western Avenue, Avondale, 85323
• Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 11:30 a.m. - Salvation Army, 85 E. Saragosa Street, Chandler, 85225
• Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 6:30 p.m. - Granite Reef Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef, Scottsdale, 85215
• Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 6:30 p.m. - Bethany Bible Church, 6060 N. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, 85013

• All Phoenix areas have been assigned.  Volunteers are needed in the western and eastern parts of Maricopa County.
• All survey volunteers must be 18 years or older
  
• All survey volunteers must participate in a volunteer training session related to engaging and interviewing individuals experiencing homelessness
• Team leads will be responsible for coordinating with their team the transportation needs of the group for the surveying itself

If there are any questions or comments about the 2013 PIT Homeless Street Count, please contact Brande Mead, MAG Human Services Program Manager, at (602) 254-6300 or by email at bmead@azmag.gov.