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Signs of homelessness in Tooele County.
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Loading...Later this week volunteers will scour the community looking for homeless people.
It’s called the annual Point-in-Time Count, a process required by the federal government so agencies in the county can continue to receive state and federal funds to help with assistance for people and families that are homeless.
And the Tooele County Homeless Local Coordinating Council is looking for volunteers to help with the count, which will be held between 5 and 7 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 26 and 27 and between 6 and 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28.
Volunteers may work any or all of the days of the count, according to Brad Gillies, who represents the Tooele County Health Department on the Homeless Coordinating Council.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that the count take place on the same days statewide.
Volunteers will be assigned to groups to specific locations to survey people in the morning to find out where they slept on the night of Jan. 25, providing an in-depth look at homelessness in Utah, according to Tricia Davis, assistant director of the state Office of Homeless Services.
“Our goal is to get the most accurate count possible with the help of volunteers across the state,” Davis said. “With the help of volunteers, we are able to measure the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Utah.”
The purpose of the Point-in-Time Count is to gain a deeper understanding of how many individuals and families in Utah are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, which includes living on the streets, in cars, RVs, or other places not meant for human habitation.
The goal is to count and interview every person experiencing homelessness in Utah. The information gathered will help policymakers set benchmarks to measure progress toward ending homelessness, and help plan services and programs to appropriately address local needs.
The volunteers will meet each morning before starting the count at the Tooele County Health Department at 151 N. Main Street in Tooele City.
People with additional questions or are interested in volunteering can contact Gillies by email at bgillies@tooelehealth.org.
