Annual homeless PIT count adjusts for pandemic
LAKE COUNTY >> The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count on Thursday January 28 in Lake County is undergoing some modifications, mostly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the SAMHSA, (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) “Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires Continuum of Care (COC) organizations to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in the geographic area that they serve through the PIT count. Conducted by most COC organizations during the last 10 days in January, the PIT count includes people served in shelter programs every year. These organizations are responsible for counting people who are unsheltered. The effort involves mobilizing staff and volunteers who canvass the streets and other settings to identify and count people experiencing homelessness.”
Rev. Shannon Kimbell Auth is the chairperson for this year’s PIT Count for Lake County. “This year HUD is allowing us to do a limited number of the PIT surveys by phone in addition to the in-person count. These are not random surveys but established homeless service providers who have an existing service relationship with a client who is experiencing homelessness. The Case Manager, who has received training, can call their clients to participate in the PIT Count rather than enumerators counting only those who show up or we find. The best example of this is the Veterans’ Association. The VA has social workers working with veterans who are unsheltered. In the past we could only count the veterans who showed up on the day of the count at a PIT location or who our enumerators found on the day of the count. This year the VA
Social Worker can contact those veterans they have a working relationship with and complete the survey by phone. Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) will do the same for families they have identified through the school system as being unsheltered.”
There are numerous participating sites involved: Clearlake (La Voz and the Senior Center), Lower Lake (United Methodist Church), Middletown (United Methodist Church), Kelseyville (Senior Center), Lakeport (The Harbor on Main), Upper Lake (Community Center), Lucerne (Snake Lady’s Restaurant), Clearlake Oaks (Big Oak Peer Center), Veterans Outpatient Clinic (People can call the clinic on the day of the count).
“Volunteers will visit the sites of known encampments, search for individuals and encourage people to complete the survey there or to go to a site and be counted. Although they will need to follow COVID precautions including masking and spatial distancing,” said Kimbell-Auth.
Regarding the PIT Count happening during the pandemic, Christopher Taliaferro, Chair of the COC, said, “One of things we’re trying to incorporate, is going digital for paperwork. In the past we had to do the survey using pen and paper and the paper would travel through numerous hands. The counter can now do the survey using whatever electronic devise they have. Because it’s being electronically captured we don’t have to send it off anywhere. The data is real time. Time and money, that’s what it’s all about. And keeping people safe. We are cognizant of keeping our volunteers and the homeless safe. Going digital is huge for us.”
Alison Panella, Lake County Executive Director for Hope Rising (a county action collaborative), said, “I think the shift to digital is fantastic. One of our goals is to capture the correct number of community members who are homeless. This year we’re very well organized and a lot of business members have stepped up. We’re offering food at the sites. That’s not new, but it is enhanced upon. Our give-away bags are very robust. Such as: 500 backpacks with hygiene kits, socks, hand sanitizer, chap stick, hats, hand warmers, food, face masks, $10 grocery gift cards, thermal blankets, flashlight, feminine hygiene products and more.”
Both Panella and Deanna Fernweh, from North Coast Opportunities, organized the giveaway bags, which organizations like Cal Pine, GEO Thermal Geysers, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, NCO and others contributed to financially.
Holly Masterson, along with Doreen Gilmore (both from LCOE Healthy Start), will be the site managers for Upper Lake. “Last year,” said Masterson, “the PIT count in Upper Lake was just a walking survey. This year we get to use the Tribal Center on Main Street. We’ll have stations inside for the giveaway bags. There will be no more than two people allowed in at a time. We’ll have them sanitize at the door, mask up and put on gloves. Two people at the door will be doing interviews. Then the people can go and get their food.”
Carrie Manning, a mental health team leader at Lake County Behavioral Health, spoke about the sites at Big Oak Peer Center and La Voz, both in Clearlake. “We have 10 volunteers, who are all staff from other centers. They will go out in the field; Middletown, Upper Lake, Clearlake oaks, Glenn Haven. We’ll have someone one in the homeless community to take us out, so we’ll be able to find people to survey. We try to include people who are experiencing homelessness, because that’s who we’re trying to reach.”
Kimbell-Auth, when asked about how they will encourage the homeless to come to the PIT count site, said, “Homeless service providers who work with unsheltered people on a regular basis are already encouraging their clients to show on the day of the count. They will receive a meal and incentive bag for showing up to be counted. Each site is providing food with a local partner. For example Lakeport is partnering with Drinks Bar and Grill. Middletown and Lower Lake are partnering with Greenview Restaurant. Meals in Clearlake will be provided by the Sr. Center. At La Voz (a secondary Clearlake Site) and at the Peer Center in Clearlake Oaks meals are being provided by Behavioral Health. In Lucerne, Yvonne Cox, who regularly provides meals for our neighbors experiencing homelessness will be providing chili to go.
Lake County’s District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott, said, “We’re trying to count a population that doesn’t want to be found. The Point-in-Time Count is essential to bring funds into Lake County to help those who are experiencing homelessness. It is incredible to see the volunteers out on this day, ensuring everyone is counted with respect and kindness. To volunteer, you must take training to understand the application and how to respect boundaries when asking questions.”