Point-in-Time Count (PiT Count)

The Community Social Planning Council (CSPC) and Volunteer Victoria are recruiting volunteers to take part in the biennial Point in Time Homeless (PiT) Count, which consists of conducting surveys with people experiencing homelessness in Greater Victoria on Thursday, March 12th, 2020. The PiT Count will be held from 9:00 am to11:00 pm at service facilities and outdoor locations across the region.

Greater Victoria participated in nationwide PiT Counts in 2016 and 2018. Point-in-Time counts add essential information to our understanding of how people experience homelessness in our region. This information will assist planners, funders, and agencies in developing appropriate responses to homelessness in our region as well as to measure progress in ending homelessness.

The Pit Count is a regional-wide event that requires hundreds of volunteers to participate in various roles. While the majority of volunteers will be conducting surveys with people experiencing homelessness, volunteers will also be needed for various administrative and coordination tasks, event day set-up and take-down, and to lead teams of volunteer surveyors.

We are looking for volunteers who are:
• Compassionate, accepting, and enjoy one-on-one conversations with people
• Have a non-judgmental attitude and a good sense of humour
• Outgoing, curious and have a pleasant manner
• Experienced in front line service delivery (although not necessary to volunteer)

What is involved? The PiT count involves working in small teams to conduct a brief, anonymous survey with people who are experiencing homelessness. The indoor survey is conducted inside shelters and other homeless service facilities, while the outside survey is done outdoors, walking around a specific area or neighbourhood.

Volunteers sign up for one 3-hour shift, attend a two-hour training session in advance of the event, and must be 19 years of age or older to participate.

Once you have completed this application form someone will be in touch to complete the application process, to confirm training dates, and to provide more information about volunteer schedules, locations, and tasks.

Thank you for your interest!

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* 1. The PiT Count funder requires that all volunteers engaged in surveys are over the age of 19 years. It is possible for individuals under 19 to volunteer at Headquarters or at our Youth Magnet Event. Please confirm your age:

Under 19

19-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and over

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* 2. The count will occur in the following municipalities and areas in the region. Please indicate where you wish to volunteer. Check all that apply. While we will do our best to assign you to an area of your choice, we cannot guarantee this.

City of Victoria

Oak Bay

Esquimalt

View Royal

Saanich

Westshore

Saanich Peninsula

Sooke

Sidney

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* 3. Have you participated in a previous count of people experiencing homelessness?

Yes

Please describe those experiences in a few words.

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* 4. We are looking for volunteers to complete the survey count at indoor locations (i.e. inside emergency shelters, transitional housing, agencies etc.) and outdoor locations (i.e. outside in streets, parks, etc.), and for other volunteer activities at headquarters, at a youth magnet event, and in the days in advance of the event and the days immediately after the event. Please indicate where you would prefer to volunteer and check all that apply:

Indoor Count Survey Volunteer (survey individuals in shelters and at service locations.)

Outdoor Count Survey Volunteer (survey individuals on the street and in parks.)

Team Lead (help with surveys and take on additional responsibilities regarding the safety and coordination of a team of survey volunteers.)

Headquarter Volunteer (provide administrative support on the day of the count. Responsibilities include registering volunteers, distributing and receiving supplies, maintaining the snack table, delivering materials etc.)

Youth Magnet Event (setting up an evening event for youth who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness)

I am flexible and am willing to volunteer where I am needed most

Other volunteer activities in the days leading up to the event

Other volunteer activities in the days immediately after the event

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* 5. Do you have the following experiences or skills that may be helpful to the count?

First Aid Certificate

Personal experience of homelessness

Volunteer Coordination experience

Valid Criminal Record Check or Police Information Check completed within the last six months, with a vulnerable sector check

Youth Programming Experience

Community Outreach Experience

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Do you have volunteer or work experiences with a social service agency working with people experiencing homelessness? If so, please tell us which agency and a little more about these experiences.

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* 7. Have you had other experiences with people who are experiencing homelessness? If so, can you describe those experiences in a few words?

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* 8. Please confirm the following:

	Yes	No
I am physically able to stand in an indoor or outdoor location for up to 3 hours	I am physically able to stand in an indoor or outdoor location for up to 3 hours Yes	I am physically able to stand in an indoor or outdoor location for up to 3 hours No
I am physically able to walk, potentially over rough or uneven terrain, for up to 3 hours	I am physically able to walk, potentially over rough or uneven terrain, for up to 3 hours Yes	I am physically able to walk, potentially over rough or uneven terrain, for up to 3 hours No
I have a bicycle to get to indoor or outdoor count locations that I can use on the day of the count	I have a bicycle to get to indoor or outdoor count locations that I can use on the day of the count Yes	I have a bicycle to get to indoor or outdoor count locations that I can use on the day of the count No
I have a car to get to indoor or outdoor count locations that I can use on the day of the count	I have a car to get to indoor or outdoor count locations that I can use on the day of the count Yes	I have a car to get to indoor or outdoor count locations that I can use on the day of the count No
I have a cell phone that I can use on the day of the count	I have a cell phone that I can use on the day of the count Yes	I have a cell phone that I can use on the day of the count No

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* 9. All volunteers are required to attend a 2-hour training session before the count. The training sessions will be hosted in February 2020. To help us plan training sessions please indicate when you would prefer to attend training:

Week day morning

Week day afternoon

Week day evening

A Saturday Morning

A Saturday Afternoon

None of these times will work for me

An online training

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Please let us know your general availability to volunteer on the day of the PiT Count on March 12th, 2020. Please note that times are tentative and may change. Please click all that apply:

Mid Morning to noon

Noon to late afternoon

Early Evening: 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Late Evening: 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Last shift: 9:00 - midnight

No Preference

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* 11. Please provide your contact information. Please note that we will follow up with you in the coming weeks to schedule your participation in training:

Name

City/Town

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Cell Phone Number

Alternate Home or Work Number

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* 12. Are you volunteering with someone that you wished to be partnered with? What is their first and last name?

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* 13. If you have questions about the PIT Count please feel free to ask them here or connect with the PiT count Coordinator Chelsea Fiorentino at chelsea@communitycouncil.ca or at 250.386.6166 ext 101.