Olympic Community Action Programs is searching for volunteers to help with the annual Point in Time count of people experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County.
Everyone experiencing homelessness needs to be counted on the nationwide PIT day, which is Jan. 23, 2020. This means anyone living in a tent, a car, a school bus, sidewalk or other place not meant for habitation, according to a press release from OlyCAP, which is the lead agency for Jefferson County’s PIT.
Those at risk for homelessness, such as people who are couch surfing or living temporarily with others, are also counted.
OlyCAP will host two free trainings in December and January. An initial organizational and training meeting is set for 3 p.m. on Dec. 18. There will be a formal training session from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 6, where PIT coordinators from the state Department of Commerce will be on hand to explain why the count is important and what information is required to ensure all people experiencing homelessness are properly counted.
Both meetings are at OlyCAP’s conference room, 731 W. Park Ave., Port Townsend.
“Our theme this year is PIT Commit, which means we are looking for people committed to helping with the count as well as people willing to commit to being counted,” said OlyCAP Senior Housing Manager Allison Arthur.
The big question asked of those experiencing homelessness that day is “Where did you stay last night?”
They also have to give their full name and birthdate to be counted by the Department of Commerce.
Last year, there weren’t enough volunteers to have a very accurate count, said Barbara Morey, who is co-chairing the PIT Volunteer Committee along with Recovery Café coach Ben Casserd.
“Volunteers are needed because of how spread out the homeless community is in Port Townsend,” Casserd said. He is also reaching out to people within the homeless community to volunteer for the PIT.
“Volunteers who are part of the homeless community can relate to people better and have access to more places,” he said.
The number of people counted each year in Jefferson County has varied from a high of 355 individuals and families surveyed in 2015 to a low of 97 people counted as homeless in 2014.
“The trainings are free, informative and vital to ensure accuracy,” Arthur said, adding that people who have experienced homelessness are being enlisted to join in the count.
“Already, people who have experienced homelessness in the last year have stepped forward, anxious to connect with those in need of housing,” Arthur said. “They know what it feels like to be homeless and they know what it feels like to be housed.”
Arthur noted that OlyCAP has helped house some of those stepping up to volunteer while others willing to participate in the count still are experiencing homelessness themselves.
“When we count people this year, we will also offer information on the housing programs and services we have that can help them move forward out of homelessness,” Arthur added.
To learn more about volunteering, contact Casserd at clean2sober@gmail.com or Arthur at 360-385-2571 ext. 6349 or email aarthur@olycap.org and use PIT Count Volunteer in the subject line if emailing.