Tucsonβs annual Street Count, a census of the homeless, is coming up Jan. 26 and 27.
Here are three things you need to know.
1. Federal funds to help address homelessness depend on it.
The Street Count is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to prioritize communities to receive money for services for the homeless, said Patti Caldwell, CEO of Our Family Services, a major supporter of Street Count.
The Tucson area gets about $9 million a year.
HUD requires a count every other year, but Tucson does one annually, both to ensure we get our share of federal funds but also to track progress, she said.
2. About 200 volunteers are needed.
βParticipating in the Street Count is a really important and moving way to connect with one of the key challenges in our community and really put a face on homelessness,β Caldwell said.
Individuals and groups may fill out an online application at http://tucne.ws/homeless
There are different ways to participate, from helping with paperwork to counting people who receive a free dinner to counting people sleeping on the streets in the early morning.
Training is provided and people are paired with experienced team leaders.
3. Tucson is making progress in addressing homelessness.
Nationally there have been small incremental changes in reducing chronic homelessness and veteransβ homelessness, Caldwell said.
Locally, Tucson is making progress in reducing homelessness among veterans but not in chronic homelessness, she said.
The 2014 Street Count showed 398 unsheltered and 1,712 sheltered people. That figure included 290 chronically homeless people.
