Santa Barbara County, the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (CoC), and the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way invite volunteers to participate in the countywide 2020 Homeless Point-In-Time Count from 5:30-8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The Point-In-Time Count is the annual count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given day.

Teams of volunteers and experts will canvas assigned routes throughout the county and briefly document who is experiencing homelessness. This information is used to plan local homeless assistance systems and raise public awareness.

Volunteers will be trained to help count on the survey day. To volunteer, sign up at www.LiveUnitedSBC.org. Additional training information will be posted on the website.

“We can’t do this without volunteers,” said Emily Allen, director of Homeless and Veteran Impact Initiatives for the United Way Home for Good Santa Barbara County. “Santa Barbara County residents have proven they know that everyone in this community counts.”

To learn about this year’s count and how to get involved, Point-In-Time Count trainings will be offered at the following times:

Carpinteria/Summerland: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23.
Goleta: Wednesday, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Isla Vista: Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Lompoc: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.
Santa Barbara: 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11; and 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Santa Maria: noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

The Continuum of Care Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofits, and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities; promote access to and effect use of mainstream programs by the homeless; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

United Way is a community of donors, advocates, volunteers and partners who fight for the health, education, and financial stability of everyone.

Our Home For Good Santa Barbara County program supports a Coordinated Entry System, a no-wrong door, countywide system that engages and connects individuals and families experiencing homelessness to the optimal resources for their needs.

— County of Santa Barbara.