ARLINGTON, Va. – January 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — As the sun sets on Wednesday, Jan. 29, teams of surveyors will be hitting the streets, parks and wooded areas in Arlington to count the homeless. The effort is part of the annual Point-in-Time Count, now in its 14th year.
“The Point-in-Time Count gives us an important snapshot of people who are homeless in the community,” said Susanne Eisner, Director of the Arlington County Department of Human Services, which oversees the count. “The data facilitates planning and performance management toward the goal of ending homelessness here in Arlington, across the region and for the nation as a whole. This is an important night that complements the efforts of the organizations and individuals working year-round to help these people in need, connect them with resources, and get them on the path to stable housing.”
Volunteers Needed in National News |
Volunteers Needed in Social Media |
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Arlington Point-in-Time Count, 2010 – 2013 |
|||||
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
% Change 2012 to 2013 |
|
| Unsheltered Households without Children |
223 |
137 |
131 |
146 |
11% increase |
| Sheltered Households without Children |
124 |
131 |
132 |
120 |
9% decrease |
| Sheltered Households with Adults & Children |
184 |
193 |
188 |
211 |
12% increase |
| Total |
531 |
461 |
451 |
479 |
6% increase |
How the Point-in-Time count works
Volunteers will join teams made up of County government and non-profit agency staff who work with homeless populations to collect information from unsheltered homeless adults and enter it into a region-wide database. The data is analyzed to highlight progress and to identify ongoing needs for permanent housing and wrap-around services. Separate methods are used to count homeless people staying in shelters and other non-permanent housing in Arlington.
Teams will work in three shifts:
- Wednesday, Jan. 29, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 29, 8:30 p.m. – Thursday, Jan. 30, 1:30 a.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 30, 1:30 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.
Anyone interested in volunteering can learn more here. No experience is necessary.
Point-in-Time data support local efforts to End Homelessness
Arlington’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness was launched in 2008 with a consortium of more than 100 stakeholders from public, private and faith-based community organizations. The plan’s primary goal is that no individual or family who calls Arlington home shall lack access to decent, affordable housing.
10 Year Plan leaders, County officials, shelter operators, housing providers and community non-profits rely on data from the Point-in-Time Count to assess ongoing efforts, coordinate services and develop strategies to help homeless people in the community. In 2011, as part of the 10 Year Plan, the 100 Homes Campaign was launched to assess the medical vulnerability of individuals living on the streets and better connect them with services and housing. To date, 67 people have been housed through the 100 Homes Campaign.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the “10 miles square” parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation’s Capital. Slightly smaller than 26 square miles, it is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, and one of only a handful with the prized Aaa/AAA/AAA bond rating. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods and quality schools, and has received numerous awards for Smart Growth and transit-oriented development. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world — including the Pentagon — Arlington stands out as one of America’s preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
Media Contacts
Kurt Larrick
703-228-1775 (voice)
