Nearly 300 volunteers are needed for the sixth biennial homeless count in Long Beach taking place on Jan. 24 from 5am to noon.
Every two years, the citywide survey, titled “Everyone Counts,” is conducted by the homeless-services division of the Long Beach Health & Human Services Department and the Long Beach Continuum of Care, a jurisdiction of several local homeless-service providers.
The count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order for the City to receive federal funding. The survey itself, however, is unfunded and remains a volunteer-based effort, said Elsa Ramos, coordinator for the Multi-Service Center in Long Beach that will serve as headquarters on the day of the count.
More than 300 volunteers are needed this year to canvas the city’s 52 square miles that are broken up into 47 map-segments, covered by teams of three (homeless services providers and community members).
The last homeless count, conducted in January 2011, found that there were 4,290 men, women and children experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, representing a 9 percent increase from the count conducted in 2009.
During the event, participants learn about homelessness, survey individuals on the street, meet new people and learn about the resources in the Long Beach community.
Volunteers can contribute in a variety of ways, including: community outreach by recruiting volunteers for the count, getting the word out through flyers and conducting social media; hosting donation drives to collect items such as socks, travel-size hygiene products and pre-packaged snacks; volunteering and assisting at the Multi-Service Center; and street outreach to complete the surveys and provide information on available services.
Donations are also being accepted through “Long Beach Cares” to support count activities including food for volunteers and count T-shirts.
Before the survey, community volunteers are expected to take one-hour training sessions hosted at the Multi-Service Center on Jan. 15 at 1pm and 6pm, Jan. 16 at 6pm and Jan. 17 at 1pm and 6pm. The Multi-Service Center is located at 1301 W. 12th St. in Long Beach.
For more information on how to volunteer, visit elsa.ramos@longbeach.gov or call (562) 733-1147 ext. 103.
