Culver City Observer -

The Culver City Homelessness Committee is seeking volunteers for the 2020 Homelessness Count, which will place Wednesday, Jan. 22 beginning at 8 p.m.

Culver City’s Homeless Count is being conducted in coordination with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which conducts the count annually. Karlo Silbiger, the Committee’s Chair, added: "Once a year, it is important for us as a community to take stock of the housing issues in our community and of the people affected by it. With your help, we can ensure an accurate count so that we target services exactly where they are most needed."

The schedule is as follows:

• 8 p.m. — Arrival and registration at the Culver City Senior Center (4095 Overland Avenue in Culver City)

• Refreshments and food items provided from local Culver City Vendors

• 9 pm — Brief training for volunteers

• 9:30 – 10 p.m. — Volunteers are sent to their precinct for the Count

• Midnight — Volunteers return

The Count is an enumeration of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Culver City. All cities on the Westside of Los Angeles County will conduct the Count the same night to avoid duplication of individuals counted in neighboring cities. The numbers generated by the Count are statistically analyzed to estimate the number of homeless individuals in a broader area. Since it is not possible to locate every homeless person, each individual that is found “counts” as more than one person for purposes of statistical analysis. Based on the data collected, the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and to the federal government review the results to determine resource allocations to Culver City for housing and homelessness assistance programs.

On the night of the Count, Committee Members will also be collecting donations, such as diapers, toiletries, blankets and socks. Donations will be given to Upward Bound Home and other local organizations that have direct contact with individuals and families who are homeless in our community.

The Homeless Count is critical because it leads to the distribution of resources for those in need by determining the need of each locality. On the night of the Count, volunteers either walk or drive through their assigned precinct and tally the homeless individuals they observe. Direct contact with persons observed is not made by Count volunteers (however, based upon Count data, homeless service professionals will be dispatched to assess the situation and offer information and resources) Further, all volunteers are trained in safety and tallying procedures prior to the Count.

Finally, although the schedule listed above anticipates volunteers concluding the Count sometime around midnight, volunteers tend to return much earlier. Culver City Police Department will be participating.

To sign up, please go to http://www.theycountwillyou.org.

If you have any questions, contact Tevis Barnes, Culver City’s Housing Administrator, at 310-253-5782.

Volunteers over the age of 18 will be able to deploy. Minors, however, can volunteer with set up and assisting at the Senior Citizen Center. Volunteers are also needed to help set up, serve food and drinks and clean up. Volunteers can also help with assembling hygiene packs for Upward Bound Home.

If they have too many volunteers at our site, volunteers may be asked if they would be willing to help out at other nearby sites, such as Palms or Mar Vista.