Homeless Point In Time Count Rescheduled to February

​Update by the County of Santa Barbara
January 19, 2022

2022 Homeless Point In Time Count Rescheduled to February 23: Volunteers Still Needed

To ensure the health and safety of volunteers, staff and people experiencing homelessness, the decision was made to reschedule the countywide Homeless Point In Time Count to Wednesday, February 23. Volunteers who had registered for the original date of January 26 have been contacted regarding the new date. Several hundred volunteers are still needed.

 The semi-annual Point In Time Count is the annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given day. The Count could not be done without the help of the community. Teams of volunteers will canvas assigned routes throughout the county and briefly document who is experiencing homelessness. This information is used to plan local homeless assistance systems, justify funding, and raise public awareness. Volunteers will be trained to help count on the survey day. To volunteer, please sign up at https://countyofsb.pointintime.info/

“With everything that has happened over the past two years, the Point-in-Time Count is more important than ever,” said Jett Black-Maertz, Housing Program Specialist, Sr. with the County of Santa Barbara Community Services Department. “It is important that we have an accurate count; we can’t do that without the help of volunteers.”

COVID-19 Safety Measures for the 2022 Count

• Volunteers are encouraged to sign up in teams with people they already interact with (households, colleagues, friends).
• Individuals not part of a group will be matched in teams based on the comfort level indicated at sign up and must provide proof of vaccination.
• To avoid a large gathering, groups will be deployed as they arrive at their assigned logistics center.
• Appropriate face coverings and hand sanitizer are required (volunteers are encouraged to bring their own, but supplies will be provided) to keep teams and those being surveyed safe.

Source: County of Santa Barbara
January 9, 2022

The County of Santa Barbara County and the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (CoC) invite volunteers to participate in the countywide 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time Count from 5:30-8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. The Point-In-Time Count is the annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given day.

Teams of volunteers will canvas assigned routes throughout the county and briefly document who is experiencing homelessness. This information is used to plan local homeless assistance systems, justify funding, and raise public awareness. Volunteers will be trained to help count on the survey day. To volunteer, please sign up at  HYPERLINK “https://countyofsb.pointintime.info/” https://countyofsb.pointintime.info/.

“With everything that has happened over the past two years, the Point in Time Count is more important than ever,” said Jett Black-Maertz, Housing Program Specialist, Sr. with the County of Santa Barbara Community Services Department. “It is important that we have an accurate count; we can’t do that without the help of volunteers.”

COVID-19 Safety Measures for the 2022 Count

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up in teams with people they already interact with (households, colleagues, friends).

Individuals not part of a group will be matched in teams based on the comfort level indicated at sign up and must provide proof of vaccination.

To avoid a large gathering, groups will be deployed as they arrive at their assigned logistics center.

Appropriate face coverings and hand sanitizer are required (volunteers are encouraged to bring their own, but supplies will be provided) to keep teams and those being surveyed safe.

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

The County of Santa Barbara supports the Continuum of Care and the Coordinated Entry System, a no-wrong door, countywide effort to engage and connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with the optimal resources for their needs. We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home for good.