Homeless Street Count FAQs

Updated Dec. 17, 2021

When is the Homeless Street Count?

The last count took place in January 2019. The next count will include anyone who says they slept outside on the night of Wednesday, January 26, 2022. That is a year later than normal. The federal government allowed many jurisdictions nationally to delay the Street Count set for last year because of COVID-19 risks.

HOW CAN SOMEONE SUPPORT OR VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH THE STREET COUNT?

Anyone interested in volunteering should email [email protected].

What is the purpose of the Homeless Street Count?

The Homeless Street Count is an effort to learn more about the individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given night in Multnomah County. It captures a snapshot of those who are "unsheltered" – sleeping outside, in for example, a car or abandoned building, in tents/campgrounds – on a given night. In combination with the One Night Shelter Count (see below), which is conducted on the same night, it provides important information about the level of homelessness in our community and the need for services.

What is the One Night Shelter Count?

The One Night Shelter Count (ONSC) gathers information on people sleeping in emergency shelters, motels, and transitional housing. It is conducted on the same night as the Homeless Street Count. 

Who coordinates the counts?

The 2022 Street Count is being coordinated by the Regional Research Institute at Portland State University, in partnership with the Joint Office of Homeless Services. The Regional Research Institute held that same role in the 2019 Count.

Clackamas County is also participating in the planning work this year. The One Night Shelter Count is coordinated by the Joint Office. The results of the street and shelter counts are combined into a single Point-in-Time Count report.

Why does Multnomah County conduct a Homeless Street Count?

Communities that receive federal funding for homeless services are required to conduct a comprehensive Homeless Street Count at least every two years in order to maintain funding eligibility. The data collected from the count also helps the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners through A Home for Everyone plan for the funding and services needed to meet the needs of homeless persons in our community.

What geographic areas does the Homeless Street Count cover?

The count covers all of Multnomah County.

Why should community organizations participate in the Homeless Street Count?

The Homeless Street Count relies on the participation of hundreds of organizations across Multnomah County who help to administer a short survey during the week of the count.

If your agency comes into regular contact with people who are experiencing homelessness and who are unsheltered, your participation is essential to making sure the count is as accurate and comprehensive as possible.

Having an accurate count enables our community to be competitive for federal homeless funds. In addition, by enabling us to better understand the demographics and needs of those experiencing homelessness in our community, an accurate count helps to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources to meet the needs of the different populations.

Should my agency participate in the One Night Shelter Count or Street Count or both?

If your agency serves people who are in emergency shelter or transitional housing, then you should participate in the ONSC. For anyone who is turned away after seeking those services, you can administer the Homeless Street Count survey. If you serve people who are unsheltered, then you should participate in the Street Count. If you serve both populations, then you should participate in both counts. However, only one form should be filled out for each individual. If an individual or household is in shelter or transitional housing, you should use the ONSC form. If an individual or household is sleeping outside or is turned away from shelter services, you should use the Street Count form.

What is the definition of homelessness used for the Homeless Street Count?

The Homeless Street Count focuses on people who are unsheltered and sleeping in a place that is not intended for human habitation. This includes streets, sidewalks, parks, alleys, transportation depots or other parts of transportation systems, all-night commercial establishments (e.g., movie theaters, laundromats, restaurants), abandoned buildings, farm outbuildings, caves, campgrounds, vehicles (e.g. cars, trucks, RVs, trailers), and other similar places. Per the federal government’s requirements, the Homeless Street Count only focuses on unsheltered homeless persons. It does not include people who are in shelter or transitional housing, or who are couch surfing or doubled up with family or friends.

What about people who are doubled up?

People who are doubled up or couch surfing represent a significant proportion of the individuals and families experiencing housing instability in Multnomah County. However, the federal and state guidelines that determine the methodology for the Homeless Street Count and One Night Shelter Count do not include those populations. The Point-in-Time count report draws from data collected by partner organizations to provide estimates of the “doubled up” population in an effort to provide a more complete picture of homelessness and housing instability in our community.

Why is the count held in late JANUARY?

Both the Homeless Street Count and the One Night Shelter Count typically occur at the end of January as mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD requires homeless counts to happen during the last ten days of January in order to capture data when shelter use peaks due to weather. It requires the counts to happen at the end of the month because that is when those who cycle on and off the streets are most likely to be homeless, having depleted their monthly income or benefits.

What is the Homeless Street Count methodology?

The Homeless Street Count methodology aims to be as comprehensive as possible by incorporating the following elements:

1. Coordinated outreach

Outreach workers from more than several community organizations coordinate efforts to visit camps and survey people who are unsheltered on the night of the count.

2. Data from agencies and programs that serve people who are unsheltered

Scores of other organizations provide data for the count by administering a short survey with anyone they encounter who is unsheltered on the night of the count.

3. Coordination with the One Night Shelter Count

Organizations participating in the One Night Shelter Count also collect Street Count data from those turned away from a shelter, motel, or transitional housing on the night of the count who plan to sleep outside.

4. Identification of camps

Key partners from agencies such as law enforcement, parks and public utilities provide information on the location of homeless camps throughout the county. Outreach workers visit camps during the week of the count as part of the coordinated outreach strategy.

How does the count avoid duplication of data?

The Homeless Street Count survey form and the One Night Shelter Count form collect basic identifying information for each individual who is counted. This information is used to eliminate any duplication across the surveys.

How ARE the data used?

Data from the Homeless Street Count and One Night Shelter Count are used to inform policy, planning, resource allocation and evaluation of homeless services. For example:

  • Count data are required elements of federal competitive grants such as the Continuum of Care, as well as the Consolidated Plan for Gresham, Portland and Multnomah County.

  • Local governments and nonprofits use the data to help inform planning and coordination of homeless services, especially through our community-wide partnership, A Home for Everyone.

  • The federal government uses data from the Homeless Street Count to evaluate our community’s effectiveness in preventing and ending homelessness. Knowing more about the specific needs of those experiencing homelessness allows local governments to direct resources to meet those needs.