The recent surge in COVID-19 cases delayed the annual count on the homeless population conducted by the county of San Diego.
The Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) conducts their county annually in January. This year, the count is delayed until Feb. 24.
According to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the count must be conducted within the last 10 days of the month. It is more likely at that time for homeless individuals to be on the street or in shelters due to depleted funds.
The last available information by the task force dates back to January 2020. Counts on homelessness nationwide have been delayed due to the pandemic.
The county requires about 1,500 volunteers to survey individuals who are unhoused, living on the streets, and those who are unsheltered in one given night.
According to Tamera Kohler, CEO of the task force, there are 34 deployment sights across the region. Volunteers hit the streets at 3:45 a.m. to ask questions to discover the population’s demographics, conditions, and needs.
Homeless individuals receive gift cards for their time, hygiene kits, and information for them to use.
According to Kohler, the count was pushed back in hopes of "getting some space between the Omicron surge", in addition to "implementing additional safety precautions for volunteers and the homeless population".
The city of Chula Vista conducted a count last year.
“We haven't been able to get a true count,” said Homeless Outreach Team supervisor, Sgt. Ernie Pinedo during a Nov.9, 2021, City Council meeting.
According to Pinedo, the total number reported by the city's Homeless Outreach Team reflected 792 homeless individuals. Of that total, 672 reported as unsheltered which includes 350 housed in hotels and motels.
Since its establishment in 2016, the HOT has conducted regular outreach to the unsheltered population alongside partnered local community organizations, faith-based agencies, health agencies, mental health providers, and neighboring cities. The HOT has a minimum of 400 touch-points that have been made monthly, with over 75 people moved off the street into transitional housing and permanent housing.
The city continues to case management to ensure they are on a stable path for those who are housed.
An update on the city’s homeless popuilation has not been made available.
Today the RTFH administers many of the core federal requirements such as serving as the collaborative applicant to HUD, administering the Homeless Management Information System, conducting an annual Point-in-Time Count, among other efforts to end homelessness.
Members of the public interested in volunteering to the county’s annual count may visit “We All Count” to enroll.
All volunteers will be provided N95 masks, which are available at all of the count sites, and participants will be paired in a way to ensure each other's safety.
