Project Homeless Connect/Point In Time Count Review and Feedback
The following is a summary of ideas discussed at the March 13th Project Homeless Connect debriefing.
- Project Homeless Connect will continue to be coordinated with the PIT Count for future years.
- The State of New Jersey needs to take a more active role in planning and participating in PHC and PIT Count.
- Meet with the Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development to get the Board of Social Services more involved.
- Need a more active role from the Division of Mental Health Services, specifically PATH and ICMS.
- Liability concerns for volunteers were discussed. In Salem County they purchased a $1 million liability for each volunteer that only cost $340 for the day.
- There was a surplus of volunteers in some Counties and in others not enough. Passaic County which involved AmeriCorps volunteers suggested that other Counties reach out to AmeriCorps programs within their County.
- Faith based organizations played an important role in assisting and providing sites for PHC. Need more involvement from faith based organizations next year.
- Press releases were helpful to get additional volunteers and donations while some Counties felt the press releases caused the unsheltered homeless to stay with friends or family that day or left very early so they wouldn’t be bothered by the Count.
- The homeless veteran count was discussed. A suggestion was made that Counties have veterans on the PIT Count teams because veterans talk to veterans.
- Transportation issues were discussed. Some Counties experienced difficulty transporting homeless individuals to PHC sites.
- A suggestion was made that the PHC flyers be translated into Spanish.
For more information contact Randi Moore.
Monarch’s Ending Homelessness Team has developed a Power Point presentation that reviews all of the accomplishments of the first Statewide Project Homeless Connect. To view the presentation click here.
