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Directions for PIT Count Teams/Volunteers

West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness

January 27/28, 2011 PIT Count

1. HUDs Definition of Homelessness:

An unsheltered homeless person resides in:

A place not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings,or on the street.

A sheltered homeless person resides in:

An emergency shelter, including temporary emergency shelters only open during severeweather, or

Transitional housing for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or emergencyshelters.

An institution intended to institutionalize people given that the person has resided there for 30days and was homeless prior to entering the institution

If the person says they have a place to sleep the night of Jan. 27, please ask them question 1b.about whether or not they might be evicted or otherwise forced to leave their residence withinthe next 7 days.

2. To avoid duplicate counting:

When approaching a person in a place other than a shelter or transitional housing program,first ask them if they have been interviewed by someone else already for this PIT count.

In order for us to un-duplicate surveys, be sure to use the unique identifier system (first initial

first name + first initial last name + birth day + gender)

For exam ple, John Smiths birthday is 03/14 /1953, he would be:

JS03141953M

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3. To avoid violating privacy for the homeless person:

Ask the person to step aside with you, out of hearing of others, for the duration of the survey.

4. Approaching the person(s) to be interviewed:

Explain that getting funding for programs for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness depends on our being able to accurately count folks to establish the communitysneeds.

If the person does not wish to be interviewed, thank them for their time. Later, fill out whatyou can on their situation on the Observation Only form.

5. After the interview:

Thank them for their participation.

6. Documentation:

Be sure your name AND the county is on the top of the form, so if someone needs to clarifysomething with you later, they are able to reach the source. The county information willallow us to disseminate data by county and provide you with a snapshot of homelessnesswithin your county.

After completing all your survey forms, make time to go over each survey you have done, fillingin any blanks for which you can remember what you were told. Where there are still gaps,indicate you could not get the information because either: the person did not know the answeror refused to tell you.

Give the completed survey forms to your team leader!

7. Team Leaders

Collect all surveys and forward to WVCEH, Attn: Amanda Sisson, HMIS Data Coordinator andTrainer, WVCEH, 160 John Street, Weston, WV 26452 no later than February 11, 2011

Shelters will need to complete the Shelter Tally Form in addition to the Homeless Demographic and

Needs Surveys and return tally forms and surveys to WVCEH.

8. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THE PIT COUNT FOR 2011!!!