Maricopa County authorities are seeking thousands of volunteers to gather information for its yearly homeless “Point-in-Time” count.
Volunteers are being sought out by officials in Maricopa County to help with the yearly homeless count survey.
Every year, the Maricopa Association of Governments facilitates the data gathering process so that officials can get a clear view of the regional homelessness predicament.
Volunteer work is essential for MAG to accurately calculate the amount of people who are without a home and located in places like alleys, parks, streets, riverbeds, shelters and other areas.
Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, who is the chair of the organization, commented that the count of homeless people was a mere glimpse of the overall issue of homelessness.
In a statement, Gallego remarked that “the collection of data is a critical means of achieving advancement.” He went on to explain that as MAG unites the Valley’s elites in order to directly tackle homelessness, following and evaluating trends can assist in appreciating the complexity of the issue and, subsequently, guide our policy choices.
Participation in the data collection is open to all. For this purpose, representatives from local governments, non-profit organizations and faith-based communities will spread out throughout the Valley in groups to collect the needed information.
What is the significance of the point-in-time count?
The point-in-time count from the previous year uncovered 9,642 individuals experiencing homelessness within the area, a 7% increase. Furthermore, a rise in the number of people taking refuge in shelters was observed while the number of people living on the streets dropped.
The Homeless Management Information System is utilized daily for the compilation of data regarding homelessness. This information is then used to generate a quarterly report which outlines the trends regarding those without a home in Maricopa County, as well as performance measures of the system. Having this knowledge allows for a better understanding of the necessities and the most efficient use of resources.
Officials said the tally of the data collected will be available in April.
Those wishing to take part in the point-in-time count can reach out to the coordinator in their area to register as a volunteer.
