Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Since 2005, HUD requires all communities receiving federal grants from the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assist Act to conduct an annual survey of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in their community. These grants are separated into two major components, Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing.
The survey is conducted by VOLUNTEERS, not paid employees. Some communities, in conjunction with local initiatives, use things like socks, toilet paper and snacks to encourage people to engage with VOLUNTEERS and disclose demographic information.
It is believed the annual count underestimates the number of homeless. There is no reasonable way to count the number of people couch surfing, living in their cars, sleeping in all areas not intended for human occupation.
The Annual Homeless count occurs at the same time all over the US in the latter part of January.
I am a long time on again/ off again volunteer for a not for profit organization in a limited service area that provides emergency overnight shelter to qualifying guests.
It relies on Federal, State, County, Municipal grants and private donations. Some churches donate facilities space one night a week on a rotating basis. All potential guests are screen upon entry and during their stay. Those displaying any obvious signs of being under the influence and/ or aggressive behaviors will be declined. Repeat guests are required to be tested for TB and are assigned to a social worker, if desired.
Services provided vary facicility to facility, night to night. A meal, showers, laundry facilities, family accommodations may or may not be included. Shelters welcome donation of goods, especially rubber soled shoes and basic toiletries.
Guests sleep on vinyl coated pads on the floor and receive a blanket.
A skeleton crew of volunteers remain onsite overnight to keep the shelter safe.
Check out occurs at 7:00 AM. No exceptions. At that point, volunteers sanitize the pads, physical area and launder blankets, either onsite or at a commercial laundry.
Many of the guests are employed and some are challenged to manage their incomes, given their obligations and/ or wants.
Because of screening, those unable to control their behaviors and/ or are under the influence are not welcome.
The most challenging thing for me is the need to suspend judgment, which is why I need to vary my volunteer commitments over a broad number of opportunities.
There are thousands of not for profit organizations function all over the country. Structure, policies, goals and experiences are highly variable.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
