SAN DIEGO–County employees will again participate in an annual count of homeless persons in January, under a proposal approved today by the County Board of Supervisors.
At the urging of Supervisors Greg Cox and Ron Roberts, the Board voted unanimously to establish a volunteer program to allow County employees to participate in the annual Point-in-Time count on January 23, 2015.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the count and data from the survey is used to apply for federal funding.
In San Diego, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless leads a collaboration of community partners and volunteers in conducting the county. Last year, Supervisor Cox personally joined more than 400 County employees in the early morning hours to canvass city streets.
“This survey brings us face-to-face with the men and women who are living on our streets and help us gain a better understanding of their problems,” said Cox. “Talking to them and hearing their stories allows us to craft solutions and services so we can get them off the streets.”
Under the proposal approved by the Board, employees will participate in the count on paid County time, serving a public benefit by ensuring the region’s homelessness can be accurately quantified and federal funding can be secured to address this regional issue.
