Training for Count Volunteers

Transcription

1 2015 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Training for Count Volunteers January 27, 28, & 29,

2 Welcome! Introductions Meet your trainer Ask them: o Your name, community o Is this your first count? o Why are you counting? Note: Since 2005, LAHSA has been mandated to conduct a count every 2 years.this is the 6 th Homeless Count in Los Angeles County. 2

3 Why do we count? Understanding the number of homeless people in our community helps to address the issue Allows us to see progress from previous years, measure success, and tailor programs to meet the needs of homeless people in Los Angeles Counting brings federal, state, and local funding to homeless service and housing providers Knowing our homeless neighbors better is the best way for us to improve services and housing. 3

4 Where and when do we count? All of LA County, except Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena (they do their own counts) Every two years Street Count January 27, 28 & 29, 2015 Shelter Count January 27, 28 & 29, 2015 Youth Count - January 27, 2015 Demographic Surveys January to February

5 How do we count? It s as easy as 1. Select an area 2. Walk, Drive* 3. Count and tally *must get out and walk areas with likelihood of finding homeless persons 5

6 Schedule for the Night 8:00 pm Check In 8:15 pm Train 9:00pm Team Up and Count! Each team will be given a map of the area they will count and materials to tally. Walk and/or drive to your area, and then count in every street, alley, and park. Return to the deployment site after you finish counting your area (usually takes about three hrs) All team members need to return to the site to check in with the coordinator 6

7 Teams Count Teams: There can be up to four people per team: one driver, one navigator, and two counters. If you find you have two or three people to make up a team, that can be done as well. At a minimum, 2 people form a team. A detailed census tract map, with grid to cover, will be provided to each team, along with a clipboard, pencils, flashlights, tally sheet and 211 cards. 7

8 Job Descriptions/Roles Driver: The driver's only job in the enumeration is to drive their team safely around the map area assigned. Driver will park and walk tract with other volunteers 8

9 Job Descriptions Navigator: The navigator will help the driver navigate around the assigned map and will keep track of what areas of the map have already been canvassed. The navigator should also assist in finding homeless persons. 9

10 Job Descriptions Counters (2 per team): The Counters will be responsible for observing and documenting the number, gender, and age group of those observed. It will be the Counter s decision about whom to classify as homeless during the observational count. In addition, the counter will be responsible for tallying the information. 10

11 Regular Census Tract Map 1 Team **Count only inside dashed area** 11

12 Aerial Map 1 Team **Count only inside dashed area** 12

13 Regular Map Split 2 teams **Count only inside dashed area** 13

14 Who do we count? We will visually count: Homeless People o Individuals o Families o Youth Numbers of vehicles used as homes. Number of tents and make-shift shelters (any makeshift shelter, such as cardboard boxes, tarps, tents, etc.) o Unless from a respectful distance you can see how many people there are, in the case of cars, vans, campers, RVs, or make-shift shelters, only count and tally the car, etc. 14

15 DO NOT DISTURB! Do not approach individuals and ask them if they are homeless. Observe and tally only Keep a respectful distance at all times Flashlights are for paper, not people We will provide you with a 211 Referral Card that you may give to a homeless person who requests information If someone asks for immediate assistance, contact your Deployment Site Coordinator Team will be sent to location 15

16 Where to look? Where would you sleep if you were living on the streets and needed to be safe from the elements? Riverbeds Freeways underpasses Parks Alleys Behind Stores/Churches Metro/bus stops Other? Remember, you count only within your assigned area (inside dashed area) DO NOT: Abandoned buildings go into private property Climb fences Enter construction areas 16

17 How do I know if they re Homeless? Use your best judgment and the ABCs: Appearance Condition Behavior Appearance Wearing many layers of clothing/blankets In poor physical condition, hygiene Weathered skin Lots of stuff Behavior Sleeping or lying down on the ground or on a bench Pushing a cart or carrying many belongings Condition (vehicles) Blankets on the windows of cars or vans Cars packed with belongings Fogged up windows Campers or RVs in disrepair, parked with many similar vehicles 17

18 Vehicles Vehicles include Cars, Vans, or RVs/Campers As you canvass your area, please notice the vehicles to see if anyone is sleeping in them. Hints that people are sleeping in a vehicle: Registration expired/no license Poor condition of vehicle Windows covered up for privacy and will almost have condensation when occupied Furniture out front Debris Not in residential areas Almost always more than one together In Parking Lots Unless from a respectful distance you can see how many people there are only count and tally the vehicle 18

19 Car What are the signs this vehicle is used as a home? 19

20 Van What are the signs this van is used as a home? 20

21 RVs/Campers What are the signs these RV s/campers are used as a home? 21

22 Make-shift Shelters A make-shift shelter is any collection of items (bedroll, blankets, shopping carts, boxes, dumpster, etc.) compiled, constructed, and used as a home by a homeless person at an outdoor locations. Unless from a respectful distance you can see how many people there are in the make-shift shelter, only count and tally the make-shift shelter itself. 22

23 Example: Make-shift Shelters 23

24 Example: Make-shift Shelters 24

25 TALLY SHEET 25

26 Top of the Tally Sheet DONE DONE DONE You Fill-In You Fill-In You Fill-In You Fill-In You Fill-In 26

27 Tally Sheet: Individuals 27

28 Tally Sheet: Families Note: If you encounter more than 5 families, use the back of the tally sheet. 28

29 Tally Sheet: Vehicles, Tents, Make-shift Shelters 29

30 Counting Example Make a judgment call are they homeless? If yes, decide if they are a family or individual(s). If not, don t count them! Make a judgment call are people sleeping in the vehicle? If you CAN see people complete the individual or family section of the tally sheet If you CANNOT see people fill out the vehicle, tents, and make-shift shelter section of the tally sheet o Do not double count 30

31 Ambiguous Situations If you don t see any persons in a vehicle or make shift shelter, count it as one vehicle/make shift shelter If you see two or more persons, count them as individuals. DO NOT count them as vehicle/make shift shelter Avoid double counting 31

32 QUIZ: Ambiguous Situations Vehicles Scenario 1 one vehicle, identified one person, looks like more than one person; how do you count them? Count as one vehicle in vehicle section of tally sheet Scenario 2 one vehicle, identified two people, looks like there are no more people; how do you count them? Count as two individual people in individual section of tally sheet 32

33 QUIZ: Ambiguous Situations Make-shift Shelters Scenario 3 identified one person, looks like more than one person; how do you count them? Count as a make-shift shelter Scenario 4 identified two people, looks like there are no more people; how do you count them? Count as two individual people 33

34 Keep in Mind Must get out of the car to Count Even driving tracts look for areas where they may be sleeping and get out to count (i.e. churches, metro/bus stops, etc.) Use your best judgment look at the whole environment and remember your ABC s Zero is a valid number Manage your time if you need help covering your area, call your Site Coordinator 34

35 Be Safe! Stick together! Never be on your own. Avoid any situation in which you are uncomfortable. Don t take risks Call your coordinator if you have a problem; call 911 or the dispatch number you are given if you have a true emergency If you are unable to count an area due to safety concerns CALL your coordinator and MARK the area on the map Law enforcement (Sheriff, LAPD and City Police Departments) have been notified and will be patrolling the areas Secure deployment centers 35

36 Media In the unlikely event that you are approached by a reporter: Feel free to talk to them about your volunteer experience, if you feel comfortable. Provide them with the name and number of your Deployment Site Coordinator to connect them with a media spokesperson who can provide them with more information about the count, if they ask questions you can t answer. 36

37 Release, Indemnity, And Waiver of Liability Agreement Everyone received a waiver form at the sign in table. Please take a moment to review and sign the waiver. We will collect them as you are deployed to count. 37

38 Q&A 38

39 THANK YOU! 39