News
United Way partners with MACH on 2009 Homeless Count
January 7, 2009
United Way of the Midlands is working with the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless (MACH) to conduct the 2009 Homeless Count. Every two years, each community across the country is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to do a point-in-time count of the number of individuals who are homeless. If done well, the count can help community planning to address the issue of homelessness.
"The count will help inform planning and advocacy efforts along with bring public awareness to a critical issue in our community," said Jennifer Moore, Director of the Food, Shelter, Safety & Transportation Council at United Way of the Midlands.
On January 29, volunteers will conduct surveys of homeless people in the Midlands. All volunteers will receive specific training on how to do the Count. Volunteers will travel in teams, led by an individual with specific experience working with homeless persons, and move around specific areas in the city and other known locations on foot, surveying people who are homeless. The teams will have supplies such as food and hygeine kits to distribute.
Why Count?
Every two years, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires housing and service providers who participate in the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program to complete a one-day count of the people who are homeless in their community. HUD uses a narrow definition of homelessness, which does not include people who are living 'doubled-up'. The count must be conducted during the last two weeks of January. The count helps us understand the issues and experience of homelessness and is meant to be a snapshot of homelessness on a single day.
Who?
Allen Tipping and Barbara Rippy are the 2009 MACH Coordinators. Individual counties have Area Coordinators to lead local efforts. Richland and Lexington County Area Coordinators are Jenah Cason and Jennifer Moore of United Way of the Midlands. Contact jcason@uway.org for information.
Opportunities to help!
- Collect and sort items for incentive bags
- Surveys will be conducted by trained volunteers. Training is extensive and you must complete all components of the training in order to conduct the surveys.
- Help with area coordination, planning, and fundraising.
- Make a donation to MACH to support the count
Visit the MACH's website at www.midlandshomeless.com for updates!
