{"id":670,"date":"2013-01-23T23:05:32","date_gmt":"2013-01-23T23:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/?p=670"},"modified":"2013-01-28T23:08:54","modified_gmt":"2013-01-28T23:08:54","slug":"homeless-census-the-fresno-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/homeless-census-the-fresno-view\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeless Census – The Fresno View"},"content":{"rendered":"

The homeless census gets a suspicious review from Fresno homeless activist Mike Rhodes below.\u00a0 If folks have any comments on the Santa Cruz version, please post them on the HUFF website at www.huffsantacruz.org<\/a>\u00a0 –R.Norse<\/p>\n

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To: FresnoHomelessAdvocates@yahoogroups.com<\/wbr><\/a>
\nFrom: MikeRhodes@comcast.net<\/a>
\nDate: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:26:06 -0800
\nSubject: [FresnoHomelessAdvocates] Fw: Fresno Homeless Point in Time Count [2 Attachments]<\/p>\n

[Attachment(s)<\/a> from Mike Rhodes included below]<\/p>\n

Somebody on this listserv was asking (recently) about the homeless\u00a0Point in Time count.\u00a0 The information about this count is below and attached.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As you might already know, I’m not a big fan of this Point in Time count.\u00a0 My belief is that it is flawed and will not provide us with an accurate count of the homeless.\u00a0 The methodology itself is such that you can not get an accurate count, so participating in it, to me, seems\u00a0like participating in the gathering of data that will misinform the community.\u00a0 It is set up to *under* count the number of homeless people in a city.\u00a0 That said, if someone wants to participate to find out first hand what it is like, this is your opportunity.\u00a0 I would be interested to know what you think after your participation.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Mike Rhodes
\nEditor
\nCommunity Alliance Newspaper
\nPO Box 5077
\nFresno Ca 93755
\n(559) 978-4502<\/a> (cell)
\n(559) 226-3962<\/a> (fax)
\neditor@fresnoalliance.com<\/a>
\nwww.fresnoalliance.com<\/a><\/div>\n
—– Original Message —–<\/p>\n
From:<\/strong> Melissa Mikel<\/a><\/div>\n
To:<\/strong> editor@fresnoalliance.com<\/a><\/div>\n
Sent:<\/strong> Wednesday, January 23, 2013 11:49 AM<\/div>\n
Subject:<\/strong> Fresno Homeless Point in Time Count<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Greetings Mr. Rhodes,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every two years the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to take a point-in-time census of their homeless populations to assist with local and national strategic planning.\u00a0 The homeless census helps our community advocate for resources to preserve and expand our safety net and makes our community eligible for federal funding for homeless services. The count also informs strategic planning as we work toward an end to homelessness.<\/p>\n

This year the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) will be conducting the homeless Point in Time count for a span of 3 days on February 25, 26, and 27, 2013. As Chair of the Outreach and Engagement Committee, I would like to invite you to volunteer with our community as we take to the streets to count and survey our homeless neighbors.\u00a0 Attached is our flyer providing more information about the Point in Time count and a volunteer application form.\u00a0Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Regards,<\/p>\n

Melissa Mikel<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Melissa Mikel<\/strong>
\nHomeless Initiatives Coordinator
\nmmikel@fresnohousing.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresno Housing Authority<\/strong>
\n1331 Fulton Mall
\nFresno, California 93721
\n559-443-8400 ext 4109<\/a>
\n(800) 735-2929<\/a> TTY
\nwww.fresnohousing.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Vibrant Communities. Quality Housing. Engaged Residents.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Homeless numbers: Workers fan out for census in Santa Cruz County<\/h1>\n
\n

By Stephen Baxter<\/p>\n

Santa Cruz Sentinel<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Posted: \u00a0 01\/22\/2013 05:50:28 PM PST<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
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SANTA CRUZ — Workers in a homeless census fanned out in the predawn light Tuesday, tallying the homeless on the streets and in hidden campsites across Santa Cruz County.<\/p>\n

The biannual census tries to provide a snapshot of the number of homeless in the county so programs and services can be geared toward them. The federal government requires the census for homeless service groups to be eligible for federal money.
\nThis year, for the first time, census participants were asked to estimate age groups in three categories: 17 and younger, age 18 to 25, and age 26 and older.
\n“We’re trying to get everyone out on the streets,” said Susan Brutschy, president of Watsonville-based Applied Survey Research, which conducts the study.
\nSanta Cruz City Councilman Don Lane, who participated in Tuesday’s census, added that the federal government has pushed recently for more services for homeless youths.
\n“I think there’s a real interest in who’s in that category,” Lane said. He added that he appreciated the overall data. “Otherwise, it’s so anecdotal,” he said.
\nFull results of the census are expected to be released in spring. In the 2011 homeless census, about 2,700 homeless were counted in the county, down from roughly 3,370 homeless in 2005.
\nWorkers in Tuesday’s census met at the Homeless Services Center on Coral Street in Santa Cruz — as well as in Watsonville, Felton and Aptos. Groups typically included a volunteer and a guide<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
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who was homeless to help find sites with which they were familiar.<\/p><\/div>\n

The groups were assigned areas and given maps before they headed out in cars.
\nBecause there were fewer volunteers and workers this year than in previous censuses — about 50 — some groups were assigned two areas to cover before 10 a.m. Guides were paid $10 an hour.
\nA 50-year-old homeless woman was paired as a guide with Cheryl Ruby, a counselor at the River Street Shelter in Santa Cruz.
\nIn the 39-degree morning, the two women peered into wooded areas such as the greenbelt between Highway 1 and Plymouth Street in Santa Cruz. They both recognized people they knew who lived on the streets and rode bikes or carried sleeping bags.
\n“To count the ones camping, you have to be up at 6 a.m. because they’re up,” the woman said. She didn’t want her name used because she has camped illegally.
\nOutside a fast-food restaurant, doughnut shop and gas station on Ocean Street, they spotted homeless men headed to an 8 a.m. breakfast provided by the Homeless Services Center on Coral Street.
\nCensus workers were told not to talk to their subjects or to rouse them if they were asleep. Safety was the first priority, Brutschy said.
\n“This is an observational count,” she said. “And we have a lot of ground to cover.”
\nRuby and her guide counted about 30 homeless men and two women in their area by about 9:30 a.m. Another group that went to downtown Santa Cruz counted about 150 homeless.
\nThe woman who acted as the guide said she understood why city and Santa Cruz County law enforcement had recently cleaned up the camps.
\n“I can see why the city’s upset because they leave garbage everywhere,” the homeless woman said. “I don’t leave garbage.”
\nThe woman added that she recently stayed at a shelter and worked in its laundry room — but she was still finding her way. Finding a shower, clean clothes and transportation to appointments are daily challenges.
\n“It’s hard to get a job when you’re homeless,” she said.
\nFollow Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter on Twitter at Twitter.com\/sbaxter_sc<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

By the numbers
\nNumber of homeless in Santa Cruz County according to a homeless census.
\n2000 3,329
\n2005 3,371
\n2007 2,789
\n2009 2,265
\n2011 2,771
\nSOURCE: Applied Survey Research<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The homeless census gets a suspicious review from Fresno homeless activist Mike Rhodes below.\u00a0 If folks have any comments on the Santa Cruz version, please post them on the HUFF website at www.huffsantacruz.org\u00a0 –R.Norse To: FresnoHomelessAdvocates@yahoogroups.com From: MikeRhodes@comcast.net Date: Wed, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[58],"tags":[4],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":671,"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions\/671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huffsantacruz.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}