FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 19, 2024) – Tarrant County Homeless Coalition is still seeking volunteers to support its annual Point in Time Count of individuals living in unsheltered settings throughout Tarrant and Parker counties. The Point in Time Count is a nationwide event held in January to provide a snapshot of what homelessness looks like on one night for every community in the country.
This year’s event takes place from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, Thursday, Jan. 25. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Volunteers can sign up as individuals or create a team, and select Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Northeast Tarrant or Parker County on the volunteer registration website. Anyone registering individually will be matched with a team that evening. Participants are assigned a route to canvas and asked to identify and interview people staying outside. Mandatory training is provided to all volunteers prior to and on the night of the count.
Lauren King, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition executive director, said the Point in Time Count is an important tool that helps provide a picture of what homelessness looks like on a given night and plays a role in developing communitywide strategies to end homelessness.
“Our vision is a community where individuals and families have a place to call home and the resources to live their best lives,” King said. “We need volunteers to ensure the entire county is covered and we have the most accurate picture of what homelessness looks like in our community. You can help us do that.”
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old on the night of the count, complete a participant agreement and waiver, and be available from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. Teams will consist of three to five people and must have access to a vehicle.
Additional information and signup can be found on the Tarrant County Homeless coalition website.