[MEDIA ALERT] Philadelphians to Count Homeless Neighbors
PHILADELPHIA POINT IN TIME COUNT- JANUARY 21, 2015
For more information contact: Robin Hernandez, Philadelphia PIT Coordinator, 215-232-7272, ext. 3019, [email protected], or Jennine Miller, 215-232-7272, ext. 3042, [email protected]
What: On January 21, 2015, the unsheltered count of homeless persons in Philadelphia will be performed by teams of over 300 trained volunteers who canvass streets across South Philadelphia to the Northeast. Pre-registered volunteers will meet at 10:00 pm at Congregation Rodeph Shalom (615 N. Broad Street) on the night of the count to receive team and zone assignments. Using a short survey, canvassers will speak to all willing participants encountered on the streets, in subway, bus, and train stations, and other locations in order to learn more about their housing situation and characteristics, and to help place people in available housing or shelter. Project HOME coordinates Philadelphia’s count of all unsheltered people.
Reporters are welcome to ride along with teams.
Who: Philadelphians and homeless service providers will participate as counters, surveyors and team leaders. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Supportive Housing and Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services will be present.
When: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 starting at 10 pm and ending on January 22, 2015 at 3 am.
Where: Rodeph Shalom Synagogue, 615 N. Broad St
Why: The Point in Time Count is required annually by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Jurisdictions around the United States who seek federal funding for solutions to homelessness must perform a census of people experiencing homelessness at least biennially in late January (this is known as the Point-In-Time (PIT) Count). The results are used to evaluate homelessness reduction strategies and allocate housing and other resources.
To help someone who is homeless: Call the Philadelphia Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984.
