About the Count & Survey

1. What is the Count and Survey?  The Homeless Count and Survey is a point-in-time estimate conducted every year county wide by a coalition of local organizations called ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition).  The Count & Survey is conducted in January to produce an estimate of the total number of individuals living unsheltered in the Austin/Travis County area. Volunteers are an essential part of this project as hundreds are needed to effectively count, survey and gather the most accurate estimate. 
2. When is the Homeless Count and Survey? 
   Sunday, January 22, 2012     (late morning – early afternoon)
   Rain Date schedule for Sunday, January 29th 
   
   
3. How old do I have to be to participate in the Count and Survey? 
   Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older. Minors who are 16 or 17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We cannot accept volunteers younger than 16 years of age for this event. 
4. Why is this event important and what are the results used for? 
   The Homeless Count and Survey provides an estimate of the street homeless population, which helps us evaluate and improve our services for unsheltered homeless people in Austin and Travis County. 
5. How long will the Count and Survey take? 
   While we ask that you prepare to be out 4-5 hours, some teams complete their assignments earlier. 
6. I haven't participated in this event before, will you offer training?
   Volunteers will have an opportunity to attend one of two trainings.  In addition, they can watch an online orientation at their convenience. The orientation is about 10 minutes and will give you an overview of the event and what to expect. This is a great overview if you've never participated in the Count and Survey before, and a great refresher if it's been a while since you participated. The orientation is available on this page: Training Materials

Volunteers that can not attend a training will be paired with other volunteers that have received training and have experience conducting the Count.

Registering for the Count & Survey

1. How do I sign up for the Count and Survey? 
   Volunteers can register by following the instructions found on this page: Volunteer Registration
2. Can my friends and family volunteer with me? 
   Yes, friends and family can volunteer together. While we will make every effort to place friends and family in the same team, we ask for flexibility should there be a need to place friends and family in different teams.  
3. I can't participate on the evening of the survey, is there anything else I can do to help with this event?

We need to recruit over 300 volunteers to make the Count and Survey a success! We appreciate any efforts you can make to recruit friends, family and fellow community members who are 18 years of age or older to participate in the event.  Please refer to the Volunteer Registration page for recruitment information.

 On the date of the Count & Survey

1. Where will I be on the day of the Count?  
   Volunteers will report to sites coordinated through their team leaders.  Volunteers will then go with their team to a designated area where they will conduct the count. 
   
   Some volunteers will be in urban areas of the county canvassing people in the downtown, university areas, in the streets, parks, bridges and underpasses, while other volunteers will be in more rural areas with campsites, greenbelts and river areas.
2. What will I do as a volunteer? 
   Volunteers will be assigned to teams, each with an experienced team leader, to survey predetermined areas. You and your team will conduct a brief survey with each individual you encounter designed to assess each person's housing situation.
3. What should I bring with me? 
   Make sure that you dress appropriately for the weather! Dress comfortably and in layers if necessary. Wear comfortable shoes and suitable for off-road walking.  Pay attention to the weather the day and the evening of the count so you know how to dress. Please bring your cell phone if you have one.
4. What will team leaders do? 
   Team leaders are responsible for managing teams of three or more volunteers, ensuring team members understand and follow the survey methods. They help each member of their team to be as effective as possible and offer volunteers guidance on approaching and interacting with homeless individuals. We therefore ask that team leaders have a social service background or have experience participating in previous street surveys. 
5. I was asked if I had a vehicle on the day of the survey. How will my vehicle be used? 
   If you bring your vehicle, it could be used to transport you and your team to your assigned study area. If you are not comfortable using your vehicle in this way, please let us know. 
6. Will any safety/security measures be provided for volunteers? 
   Volunteers work in teams of three or more and are instructed to remain with their fellow volunteers at all times. No one should conduct this survey on their own. We do not send volunteers into abandoned buildings or private establishments; the survey is limited to public streets and parks. Staff remain at the Count Headquaters throughout the night to stay in contact with volunteer teams via cell phone. 
7. Am I still helpful to the Count & Survey if I don't see anyone?  
   You and your team will be assigned to canvass a set of survey areas. Sometimes our volunteers see a high number of people, and other times no one at all. High density areas, which we expect have a relatively higher number of homeless people, and low density areas, which are expected to have few or none, help to give us the most accurate representation of homelessness in the county. Whether or not you encounter anyone homeless, your efforts are vital to the accuracy of the Homeless Count and Survey. 

What if I have more questions?
Please send the Count & Survey team an e-mail at homelesscountaustin@gmail.com