On Jan. 29-30, the Great Falls Area Continuum of Care and volunteers from the community will participate in the nationally coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count.
Trained volunteers will count and survey individuals who are staying in shelters, short-term housing and sleeping without shelter. Our PiT Count will provide a “snapshot” of homelessness in our community - it will indicate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in our community. Other forms of homelessness, such as people staying temporarily with friends, are not typically included in a PiT Count.
Our PiT Count will improve our understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people who are affected by homelessness in our community. The survey will provide us with key data on gender, age, ethnicity, veteran status and more.
Results from the PiT Count will be made publicly available and we will use the results to improve our response to homelessness.
Individuals, businesses, civic groups, and others interested in volunteering to help make the count as effective as possible are encouraged to contact Gary Owen at (406)799-2416 or go@uwccmt.org.
Volunteers will be required to participate in one of two training opportunities on either Monday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. or Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m.
Volunteers will meet on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at NeighborWorks GF to prepare bags of food, water and other necessities which will be provided to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Teams will go out to conduct the count on either the evening of Thursday, Jan. 29 from 5-8 p.m. or the morning of Friday, Jan. 30 from 5:30-8:30 a.m.
You can also support the effort by helping to provide items needed for the bags that will be handed out. These are some items we could use for the bags:
- Gallon ziplock bags
- Water
- Hand warmers
- Foot warmers
- Emergency blankets
- Snacks (granola bars, crackers, etc.)
- Travel size deodorant
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Socks
- Gloves
- Hats
- Rain ponchos