More than 100 volunteers recently joined forces with Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness and the Point in Time coordinating team to conduct the 2012 "Point in Time" Homeless Census.
Teams of volunteers canvassed the city walking through alleys, combing parks and checking places the average person would overlook in search of a hidden population.
The purpose of the census is to randomly obtain an unduplicated count of homeless individuals and families in the District of Columbia. Data collected by the volunteers will give the federal government and service agencies a more accurate count of homeless people in the District of Columbia region. This number will serve as the basis for developing tactics for reducing unmet needs and gaps in services for the homeless population. The ultimate goal is to help homeless individuals exit life on the streets and move into long-term housing.
