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Advocate

CFTH prides itself on being the voice of and for people experiencing homelessness and works with local, state, and federal government agencies to advance programs, policies, and regulations that improve the quality of life for people facing a housing crisis. 

CFTH works every day to shift our community from managing homelessness to solving it. Find out how you can be a part of the solution:

Click here to sign up for the Advocacy in Action e-newsletter mailing list. The Coalition issues advocacy alerts as they arise so you can lift your voices with ours and create positive change. 
Visit our Local Data and Research, FAQ, and Homelessness 101 pages to learn more about homelessness in the Houston region and stay informed on the latest data and trends. 
Follow CFTH on FacebookTwitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram and consider sharing stories from those accounts to spread the word about the work underway to solve homelessness in the Houston region.

Volunteer

Volunteerism is a critical ingredient in ending homelessness in our community and there are many opportunities for individual citizens to be a real part of the effort. 

CFTH accepts general volunteers for major events such as the Annual Homeless Count & Survey conducted each January. 

As an administrative agency, we encourage you to consider direct volunteer service with one of the many partners of The Way Home. Click here to view an interactive map of The Way Home's partners and click on each icon to view agency names, locations, contact information, and if they have volunteer opportunities available.
CONTACT

 Homeless Count

How many people are experiencing homelessness in Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County? How are Veterans, families, children, and other vulnerable populations affected by homelessness? CFTH works to help answer these questions by conducting an annual Homeless Count & Survey.

Why We Count

The annual Point-In-Time Count (PIT Count) is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the local Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) funding process to obtain a snapshot census of people experiencing homelessness in our community on one night in January. This funding provides permanent housing (i.e., Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing), supportive services, and planning funds to our community to assist people experiencing homelessness with greater self-determination. Most recently, the HUD CoC NOFO brought more than $46 million to our area in 2022.


The count includes people who, on the night of the count, are:

  • Sheltered (living in emergency shelters or transitional housing) or
  • Unsheltered (staying out doors or places not designed for habitation including vehicles, streets, parks and abandoned buildings)

The PIT Count is an essential element in our effort to end homelessness, as the data gathered from this census shows us so much more than how many people are homeless in our community - we also learn more about who is homeless and why. The PIT Count presents a great opportunity to raise awareness of the myriad challenges our homeless citizens face, hear personal experiences from those experiencing homelessness, and demonstrate the compassion and generosity of our community! 

When & Where

When: The official night of the 2024 Point in Time Count will be Monday, January 22, 2024, with count days scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday and a contingency plan for bad weather on Friday.


UPDATE: Due to inclement weather conditions, count days will now occur from Wednesday through Friday

 

Where:

  • Day 1 Regions: Inside loop 610, originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - NOW SCHEDULED for Friday, January 26, 2024.

  • Day 2 Regions: Outside 610, West of I-45, scheduled for Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - REVISED CHECK-IN TIME for 10AM Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

What this Means for You: 

  • Count Time Start: Please do not start counting before 10:00 AM.
  • Check-In Process: Your Captain will host a Teams check-in on Wednesday morning, accessible from 10:00 - 10:30 AM.

  • Day 3 Regions: Outside 610, East of I-45, scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Training Information

2024 Point in Time Count Training Overview- This session is designed to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills for participating in the 2024 PIT count. Here's what you can expect to learn: 


  • Introduction to the 2024 Point in Time Count: Gain an overview of the PIT count, its significance, and how it impacts communities and policymaking. 
  • Understanding PIT Counts: Delve into the concept of PIT counts, exploring its purpose and the critical role it plays in understanding and addressing homelessness. 
  • Definition of Unsheltered PIT Count vs. Sheltered Count 
  • Interviews Versus Observations: Understand the differences and applications of interviews and observational methods in collecting data during the PIT count. 
  • App Review: Receive training with the latest technology and app used in the PIT count for efficient data collection and management. 
  • Best Practices for Engagement: Learn effective and compassionate strategies for engaging with individuals during the count, ensuring respectful and productive interactions. 
  • Privacy and Safety Protocols: Understand the importance of maintaining privacy and ensuring safety for both volunteers and individuals being counted. 
  • T-Shirt Distribution Guidelines: Receive instructions on the distribution of T-shirts 
  • Points of Contact: Review Contacts and Group Leads 
  • Map Designations and Registrations- Understanding map and Team Assignments and How you should coordinate with your agency.

Agencies funded by the CoC/YHDP NOFO are required to assign two volunteers for each designated date, while agencies not funded by CoC NOFO must allocate at least two volunteers for one specific day. Registration for the count is mandatory and should be completed independently from the training session registration.  Training links can be found here and also below:


  • The Way Home Training Center Web Page
  • Training Session #1 was held on Thursday, January 4th from 1:00-2:30 pm
  • Training Session #2 was held on Tuesday, January 9th from 2:00-3:30 pm
  • Training Session #3 was be held on Friday, January 12th from 9:00-10:30 am
  • Click here to view the 2024 PIT Count Training presentation. 

This training is MANDATORY for all partners of The Way Home and volunteers involved in the 2024 Point in Time Count. Please register using your work email or please input the name of your agency so we are aware of what agency you are associated with. 


T-Shirt Pickup:

We encourage all volunteers to wear one of our The Way Home PIT Count T-shirts during the PIT Count. T-shirt pick-up schedule is TBD but will be announced soon.  Only those who have registered to be part of the Point in Time Count and attended a PIT Count training can receive a T-shirt.

Registration Information

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 PIT COUNT IS NOW CLOSED! 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with The Way Home’s Point in Time (PIT) Count.  The PIT count registration for 2024 has now closed. If you are interested in volunteering or have any registration-related questions, please contact us at TWHPIT@homelesshouston.org.


When: The official night of the 2024 Point in Time Count will be Monday, January 22, 2024, with count days scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday and a contingency plan for bad weather on Friday.

 

Where:

  • Day 1 Regions: Inside loop 610, originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - NOW SCHEDULED for Friday, January 25, 2024.

  • Day 2 Regions: Outside 610, West of I-45, scheduled for Wednesday, January 24, 2024. REVISED CHECK-IN TIME for 10 AM Wednesday morning.

What this Means for You: 

  • Count Time Start: Please do not start counting before 10:00 AM.
  • Check-In Process: Your Captain will host a Teams check-in on Wednesday morning, accessible from 10:00 - 10:30 AM.

  • Day 3 Regions: Outside 610, East of I-45, scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Participation Requirements:

Agencies funded by the CoC/YHDP HUD NOFO must assign two volunteers for each designated date. Agencies not funded by CoC NOFO must allocate at least two volunteers for one specific day. Failing to participate in the PIT will result in your organization being considered non-compliant with The Way Home partnership requirements.  Registration for the count is mandatory and should be completed independently from the training session registration. Training links can be found on our website in the training section of this web page. If you do not complete training, you will be removed from the final assignment list. 

 

Special Instructions for Outreach Workgroup Agencies: 

If your agency is part of the system outreach workgroup , please ensure that your teams do not choose a map. Instead, select "Region to be assigned." These agencies/groups include US Vets, the VA, SEARCH, AVE 360, Hope Haven, Houston Recovery Center, HOT Teams, The Harris Center, Star of Hope, The YAB (YHDP Team), and the Coalition for the Homeless. A special meeting with the outreach workgroup is taking place 12.19.23 – invites sent out by the Coalition Outreach Team. 

 

Team Registration:

If you are registering as a team and wish to remain together and you run into any issues,  please email twhpit@homelesshouston.org. In your email, include the names of your team members. If you have any questions or encounter any issues during registration, please reach out to twhpit@homelesshouston.org for assistance.

Participation Requirements

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Agencies funded by the CoC /YHDP HUD NOFO must assign at least two (2) volunteers for each designated date of the PIT Count. 
  • Agencies not funded by the CoC/YHDP HUD NOFO must allocate at least two (2) volunteers for at least one (1) date of the PIT Count. 
  • Agencies that are part of the System Outreach Work are asked to volunteer each day of the PIT Count. If you are unsure if your agency is part of this work please email twhpit@homelesshouston.org

PLEASE NOTE: 

  • Failing to participate in the PIT Count will result in your organization being considered non-compliant with The Way Home partnership requirements. 
  • Registration for the count is required. Registration for the PIT Count is separate from registering for PIT Count Training. 
  • Participation in PIT Count Training is required for each volunteer. Registration for PIT Count Training is separate from registering which day/location you wish to volunteer. 
  • Meeting participation requirements for the PIT Count is a scored element for the CoC NOFO Application. 

HANDLING INCLEMENT WEATHER:

  • Safety First: If you encounter severe weatehr, prioritize your safety. Avoid driving or putting yourself in any hazardous situations, remember, "turn around, don't drown".
  • Survey Continuation: If possible, focus on conducting surveys rather than observations.
  • Count Duration: Continue the count throughout the day until you feel confident the area has been thorougly covered. If you don't find anyone in your area, you may take a break and return later to resume counting. 
  • Completion Protocol: Once you've completed your designated map area, inform your PIT captain(s) that you're ready to check out.

Additional Information:

  • App Updates: Day 2 maps for general areas are now active in the app.
  • Outreach Areas: Day 2 outreach areas will be available in the app by noon on January 23, 2024. 

Need more information? Browse the tabs in this section of the CFTH website or contact twhpit@homelesshouston.org

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