Training offered for volunteers to assist with census of homeless residents

Sessions scheduled this week in Sarasota; donations also sought to pay for items, such as food and socks, to be given to the homeless

Image from the Partnership website
Image from the Partnership website

The Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness is seeking community volunteers “to reach out to our homeless citizens and find out what their needs and issues are,” the Partnership has announced.

As required by the Federal Government, a Point-In-Time census of the homeless in Sarasota and Manatee counties will be undertaken on the night of Monday, Jan. 25, a news release says. “This is part of a national effort to assess the status of the homeless,” the release adds. “We will need volunteers to assist in three areas,” it says: assembly of give-away items, census-taking and data entry.

The Partnership also is seeking donations so it can purchase give-away items such as food, socks and toiletries, the release points out.

The information collected during the census “will provide decision-makers with valuable data that will inform funding [of programs to aid the homeless population],” the release says.

Training of volunteers who will help with the census is mandatory, the release points out. Following are the remaining dates and their locations for those interested in the training:

  • 10 a.m., Jan. 15, The Salvation Army, Venice, 1051 Albee Farms Road, Venice.
  • 9 a.m., Jan. 21, PATH Meeting, United Way on 14th Street, Bradenton.

For questions regarding the project, contact Amiee Barth at Amiee@SuncoastPartnership.org or call 955-8987, Ext. 103.