DATE: January 20, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael R. Wright
Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership
PHONE: 954-357-6167
EMAIL: mright@broward.org

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - The Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership, in collaboration with the Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Broward Sheriff's Office, and Nova Southeastern University is seeking an additional 100 volunteers to assist the Homeless Continuum of Care with the collection of data for the 2017 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Survey and Built for Zero 2017 Registry Week beginning on Tuesday night, January 24th, through Thursday, January 26, 2017.

The Built for Zero 2017 Registry is designed to create a registry of homeless individuals and families, including veterans and chronically homeless persons in Broward County which will be used to assist in prioritizing housing and service resources to help them end their homelessness.

All volunteers are required to attend an orientation session. The orientation will cover the survey tools, enumerator training, safety, and coordination procedures and regulations. To register please visit the Broward Point-in-Time website and select "Get Involved." Interested persons can send their inquiries to pitvolunteers@brhpc.org for additional volunteer information.

According to Michael Wright, administrator of the Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership, the County is charged with counting every homeless person and asking them to complete a survey. The count is used to substantiate need for all federal and state grants. "An accurate count helps Broward County get needed resources to help persons experiencing homelessness in our community," Wright said. He added that the Broward Zero:2017 registration will assist in prioritizing chronically homeless persons for placement in HUD CoC Program Permanent Supportive Housing.

The survey is used to provide up-to-date information about the needs of persons experiencing homelessness and is an opportunity for the community to engage in efforts to end homelessness. The Homeless Continuum of Care is a network of organizations, advocates, residents and businesses that plan programs to implement a full range of emergency, transitional and permanent housing, along with prevention and other services to help alleviate homelessness in Broward County. The County's Zero:2017 goal is to end veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness by December 2017, and family and youth homelessness by 2020.

Shira Fowlkes, Point-in-Time coordinator, said "the volunteers will primarily assist with the Unsheltered Count/Broward Built for Zero:2017 Registration and should be prepared to walk long distances and interact with persons living on the streets." Other volunteers may assist in other areas of the Point-in-Time Count. "All volunteers will have access to people knowledgeable about the Point-in-Time Count during their shift who can answer questions and provide guidance," Fowlkes said.

About Homeless Initiative Partnership
The Homeless Initiative Partnership (HIP), a section within the Community Partnerships Division of the Broward County Human Services Department, plans and coordinates services for homeless persons, and serves as liaison to the Homeless Initiative Partnership Advisory Board, which acts as agent for the Board of County Commissioners in the development and implementation of homeless assistance programs. HIP is also the lead agency for the County's Homeless Continuum of Care, a network of organizations, advocates, residents and businesses that plan programs to help alleviate homeless in Broward County. The goal is to end veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness by 2017, and family and youth homelessness by 2020. For more information, call 954-357-6101 or visit Homeless Services.