The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative is once again preparing for its annual Point in Time count, a critical endeavor aimed at assessing the number of unhoused individuals in the region. The initiative, which directly impacts the capacity of communities to secure increased funds for housing solutions, is poised to stage its next count later this month. As cited by the City of Arvada, residents ranked addressing homelessness as a high priority, emphasizing the significance of this event.
Those interested in contributing to the cause are urged to volunteer for the PIT count taking place from Monday, Jan. 27 to Tuesday, Jan. 28. Volunteering involves participating in interviews with individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, collecting data through a standardized survey. A prerecorded training session will be available before the actual event, requiring approximately 20 minutes to complete. It should be noted that volunteers must be at least 18 years old and comfortable with approaching and interacting with those they will be surveying.
As detailed by the City of Arvada, volunteers will work in small groups, and shifts will last about three hours. The nature of the work may vary, from conversing with unsheltered residents outdoors to assisting within shelters. Given the nature of the work, it is expected that volunteers would bring personal items such as smartphones and flashlights. In addition, they must be capable of traveling on foot or by car, and standing for extended periods might be required.
The qualities sought in a volunteer are not just related to the physical aspects of the task at hand. Crucially, volunteers must demonstrate patience, humility, and respect. Their communication skills must be adaptive, and effective across a broad spectrum of people. As per the announcement by the City of Arvada, those who are interested in participating are advised to be in good health and symptom-free of cold, flu, or COVID-19 during the event. Further, the ability to accurately read and record survey responses is imperative.
