The City of Virginia Beach will conduct the Summer Count of the homeless population beginning Friday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 14. The Summer Count is a pilot project to collect information regarding the circumstances and needs of the homeless and people experiencing a housing crisis that could lead to their becoming homeless at any time.
“We hope to gather more comprehensive information about a broader population by including those at risk of becoming homeless, and by conducting the Summer Count over an extended period of time,” says John Boylan, the city’s homeless policy and resource coordinator. “The Point-in-Time Count, which is conducted during a specific 24-hour period in January, provides only a snapshot of the level of homelessness in the city.”
During the Summer Count, teams of volunteers, nonprofit partners and city staff will survey participants of homeless assistance programs and people living in emergency shelters and transitional housing. In addition, teams will canvas locations throughout the city where people who are without shelter stay.
The Summer Count is part of a coordinated regional effort with the Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth; and the Western Tidewater area. Each jurisdiction will hold a count during the same weekend. The Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation is leading the effort in Virginia Beach, in partnership with the Departments of Human Services and Public Health, Hope in the Upper Room, the Virginia Beach Homeless Advocacy and Resource Partnership, the BEACH Community Partnership and citizen volunteers.
For more information, contact John Boylan at (757) 635-0701.
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