Join Us for the Point-in-Time Count This November!
We at Advocacy Canada are excited to partner with the Central Okanagan Foundation and the City of Kelowna for a vital initiative: the Point-in-Time (PiT) Count this November. We invite you to volunteer and support the community’s unhoused members.
Your help is crucial.
As advocates for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, we understand the unique challenges individuals facing homelessness encounter. We proudly serve on the steering committee, ensuring that everyone has access to safe and supportive resources. Gathering accurate data is essential for making this a reality.
In mid-November, Kelowna will take part in a nationally coordinated PiT Count. This effort will capture a comprehensive snapshot of the unhoused population across Canada. Local service providers, volunteers, and organizations, including Advocacy Canada, will collaborate on this initiative.
Why Participate in the PiT Count?
The PiT Count is vital for understanding the demographics and circumstances of the unhoused community members. Through detailed surveys, we aim to:
- Identify Over-Represented Populations: Discover which groups, including those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, are disproportionately affected.
- Strengthen Prevention Services: Analyze pathways into homelessness to enhance support and prevention strategies.
- Foster Collaboration: Build connections between the sector serving the unhoused and areas like health and corrections to effectively target resources.
- Mobilize Community Support: Raise awareness and unite efforts to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
- Direct Resources Where They’re Needed Most: Use data to ensure assistance reaches our most vulnerable neighbors.
The PiT Count results will be publicly available. They will guide the ongoing efforts to improve the response to the unhoused population in Kelowna.
We Need Dedicated Volunteers!
On a night in November, teams of 3 or 4 trained volunteers will count and survey individuals in shelters, short-term housing, and those sleeping rough. This effort will estimate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in our community.
Volunteers will receive specific safety and interview training, supported by Interior Health, Kelowna By-Law Enforcement, and the RCMP.
📅 Training Date for Volunteers: November 2nd, 2-8 PM (Registration closes Oct. 31)
If you have lived experience of homelessness or work as a frontline service provider (Shelter, Outreach, Health), please consider joining us as a TEAM LEADER! Your expertise will greatly enhance the work.
📅 Training Date for Team Leaders: October 29th, 6-10 PM (Registration closes Oct. 27)
To register as a volunteer, please fill out the form here.
