Frequently Asked Questions

Why a point-in-time count of people who are homeless?

• At the local level, data collected will be used by the local Continuums of Care in their annual applications to HUD for homeless assistance funding. It will also be useful to the Ten Year Plans to End Homelessness that have been developed in five local Connecticut communities.

• The Point-In-Time Count 2008 will increase the public’s awareness of the problem of homelessness.

• The coordinated volunteer efforts on the evening of the actual count and the data collected will draw attention to the extent of the problem. 

• The count will be a physical count—throughout the county--, of homeless persons who are staying in shelters or transitional housing programs, or who are unsheltered and are staying on the street, living in a car, or who stay in the woods or other places not meant for people to live.

• The count will collect baseline data that will assist in assessing progress toward achieving the goal of reducing (and ending) homelessness.

• The data will identify and quantify some of the disabling health conditions of chronically homeless people, which will help plan future services to meet the needs of  homeless individuals and families

• Advocates will use this statewide data on homelessness to help with continuing advocacy efforts to secure needed resources.

Who is organizing the count?

•  The county wide Point-In-Time Count 2008 is organized by the Burke Continuum of Care for the Homeless Committee.

• 25 local social service organizations, non-profits, government agencies, businesses and other concerned stakeholders that par across the county comprise the Burke County Continuum of Care.

• The Continuum of Care is local social service organizations, government agencies, businesses and other concerned stakeholders that participate in homeless assistance. They work together to coordinate their efforts to address housing and homelessness issues and reduce homelessness in Burke County.