Volunteers needed for 2024 Homeless Point-in-Time Count in Santa Barbara County
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Santa Barbara County is looking for volunteers to participate in the countywide 2024 Homeless Point-in-Time Count from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 24.
The count is the main source of data used by the federal government to track the number, demographics, and needs of people experiencing homelessness throughout the county. This data is also used to determine federal funding to address homelessness in the county.
"It helps us to determine the amount of resources that our community will actually get to address issues of homelessness," said Landon Ranck, Associate Director of Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation. "It also helps us to figure out where the resources need to be allocated."
The count is organized by the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program in partnership with the County of Santa Barbara and The Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation (SBACT).
Ranck says about 400 volunteers are needed to do the count and SBACT is looking for about a hundred more volunteers.
Volunteers are required to attend a one hour training session in order to learn more about the importance of the count, review the best practices for canvassing, explore the Point-In-Time survey tool and ask questions.
Training is available both virtually and in person.
Prospective volunteers have until Jan. 19 to register on the website.
