3:27pm | Volunteers are needed to help the City of Long Beach conduct its fifth biennial count of the local homeless population. The count will occur on January 27, 2011.
The Health Department needs about 300 community volunteers to assist with the count. They will be needed for recording numbers of homeless individuals and families residing in emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing programs. They will also be needed to conduct the actual street count through 47 mapped segments of the city in teams of three volunteers and one service provider. Volunteers will need to sign up for a one-hour orientation and training session.
An accurate count is needed to provide to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to continue receiving federal funds for providing supportive services to the homeless population. Information on the homeless count is available at longbeach.gov/health/fss/homeless_services/default.asp. The count in January 2009 identified 3,909 homeless living in Long Beach on that day.
To volunteer or find additional information, contact Health Department Homeless Services Officer Susan Price at 562.570.4003.