Volunteers needed for Point in Time homeless count

Snohomish County is seeking volunteers for its Jan. 26 Point in Time homeless count.

The annual count is an important tool in the community’s efforts to assess the number of homeless individuals and families in Snohomish County as well as to determine ways of ending homelessness. Volunteers are needed for different parts of the county between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Human service providers, county staff and community volunteers will join together in this effort to respectfully count the number of families and individuals who are homeless in our community. The results of the count help ensure that vital federal and state funding continues to come into the community to fight homelessness.

Data from the annual count also is used to help understand how widespread homelessness is in Snohomish County and who is most affected.

“We must continue our efforts to assist those who are homeless in Snohomish County,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “This annual count gives us a better understanding of who is homeless and why.”

During the 2011 count, 2,273 individuals and 1,385 households were identified as being homeless. Additionally, 760 homeless individuals, or 33 percent of the count, were homeless children under the age of 18.

Volunteers are asked to commit to a three-hour period during the Jan. 26 count. All training and materials will be provided at the sites specified below. To volunteer or for more information, please contact one of the area leads below:

• East County: Sharon Paskewitz, 425-212-3211 or spaskewitz@voaww.org;
• South County: Maria Bighaus, 425-774-9843 ext. 236 or mbighaus@ywcaworks.org;
• Central County: Jeanita Nelson, 425-374-6319 or JeanitaN@ccsww.org;
• North County: Nate Greenland, 425-347-6556 or nategreenland@housinghope.org.

For more detailed information about the PIT Count, contact Nate Marti at 425-388-3268

 

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