The goal is to better understand how many individuals are experiencing homelessness in our community and be better equipped to meet their needs. The City of Mesa is looking for volunteers to participate in the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) 2016 Point-In-Time Homeless Count on Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 6 a.m. to noon.
The MAG 2016 Point-In-Time Homeless Count is a one-day street count to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County during a given point in time. The count includes a brief survey to identify some of the characteristics of people experiencing homelessness in our community. Cities, such as Mesa, that receive federal funding for homeless assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are required to conduct an annual comprehensive count. This helps local governments and nonprofit organizations more effectively allocate resources necessary to meet the needs of the homeless population.
Volunteers will be deployed in groups of two or three to count and interview homeless individuals and their families in various parts of Mesa. The volunteers will be required to attend a volunteer training session prior to the count. The training session will be held Thursday, Jan. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fire Station 201, 360 E. 1st St. All survey volunteers must be 18 or older.
Volunteer registration is being handled by MAG. To register, visit www.azmag.gov/homelesscount.
Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov