New COVID-19 surge frustrates OC’s search for homeless volunteers – Orange County Registry

With just two weeks until the countywide census on homelessness in Orange County, and the COVID-19 surge doesn’t appear to have peaked yet, organizers are struggling to recruit volunteers. volunteers to assist with the inventory.

The “just in time” counting usually happens every two years at the end of January, but the 2021 count has been canceled due to the pandemic. The county and nonprofit City Net of homeless services, which has a contract to monitor numbers, are gearing up to launch Jan. 24 – but they haven’t filled out the list of people who need help yet help.

In December, OC officials said they had looking for about 650 volunteers. As of Monday, about 134 people have signed up, said City Net Executive Vice President Matt Bates.

Some of the work will be done by county employees and other OC’s nonprofits working with homeless people, such as the Salvation Army and the Illumination Foundation. But Bates said that with so many people testing positive for COVID-19 or waiting to be tested, he and other organizations are full of day-to-day operations.

“We are challenged to maintain our existing projects at the moment just because so many people are exposed means so many people are left out,” he said.

And some potential volunteers may worry about catching or passing the virus on to vulnerable people on the street, Bates said.

“While we will do everything we can to make this event safe, it remains an additional obligation.”

Bai Dai recently decided postpone its homeless survey by a month, until February 24.

Riverside County and its partner agencies are working to prepare for the tally, but “as the number of cases is currently increasing, the county is considering possible options to ensure the safety of all.” the related people. We expect an announcement later this week,” county spokeswoman Brooke Federico said in an email.

Orange County’s plan is still to do the tally this month, but “obviously we’re watching what other jurisdictions are doing,” said county spokeswoman Molly Nichelson.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which sponsors many programs for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming one, requires timing every two years. Orange County last did that in 2019, when it overhauled its methodology to get what officials say should be more detailed and thorough information — so the next count will be. provides the first exact comparison with the 2019 baseline data.

After allowing local governments to cancel the January 2021 tally because of the pandemic, Nichelson said HUD will only allow a one-month delay at this point if agencies so choose.

It’s important to have data on exactly who’s on the road and why, says Bates, because it helps policymakers decide what programs and services are most needed.

“It determines our response based on the characteristics of the people you are looking for,” he said.

For now, Bates is working on the assumption that teams of volunteers and professionals will travel around the county on January 24, looking for places where people who aren’t used to sleeping or hanging out and gathering information about them.

Volunteers often wait until the last minute to sign up, he said, but he also thinks coronavirus-related concerns will be avoided by some altogether.

“We are not panicking,” he said, “but at the same time we are working very hard to fill those gaps.”

Visit everyonecountsoc.org for information or to volunteer.