Representatives of several Carbon county agencies met at Zion United Church of Christ on Wednesday to begin training for the upcoming Point in Time count.

The 2017 count - a survey conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development - will be held on Jan. 25. The results of the count are used to decide funding distribution for programs that help the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless."The Point in Time training is for the volunteers who are coming out to assist in counting the sheltered and unsheltered homeless community in Carbon County.The count is a nationwide count, and we are trying to reach out for community support so we can get accurate data. That's what secures funding that allocates back to them to find some stable housing," said Kelly Rodrigues, intake caseworker for Carbon County Action Committee for Human Resources.Leaders from local charity groups were on hand to discuss training regimens for volunteers to help with the count."It's for training for any volunteers who want to come out and help us," said Kellie Cummings, the committee's homeless assistance program director. "Any effort would be greatly appreciated, and even if they can't walk or drive, they can help in other areas. Homelessness is a problem here in Carbon County, and we need to get the numbers so that we can get the funding that we need, and their efforts can do that."Small groups of three or four people will canvass towns and boroughs, interviewing any homeless people who are willing to participate in the survey. Volunteers can also make observation reports, providing a description of a person who does not want to answer any questions, to at least contribute to the data. Questions include the frequency of shelter usage, types of benefits, sources of medical care, and incidents of domestic violence.However, it can be difficult to get homeless people to volunteer information, as many are wary of authority figures. Cummings said that the committee has experienced this during past counts."When we told them that we were going to be doing this, it got out by word of mouth, and they scattered and ran from wherever they were staying. They're afraid that if we find them, they'll get arrested or kicked out of what they consider their home," Cummings said. "We want the police to be out and about looking for them, but if they find them, we don't want anything to happen to them. Our goal is to get them permanent housing - not to get them arrested or kicked out of where they're staying."Cummings said this skepticism may be connected to misunderstandings about the homeless population, especially when it comes to looking down upon them. This can be easily circumvented by simple benevolence."Treat them like a human being - even if they're not willing to answer any questions, give them some supplies, a sleeping bag and a tent, so they can stay in the woods if they want," she said.Wil Hoffman, director of St. Peter's Community Resource Center in Weissport agreed, seeing the survey as an opportune time to distribute supplies and provide valuable information."If they come into our building during this time, we provide the same contacts that Kellie and Carbon County Action Committee can provide, to get them help," Hoffman said. "We have a pantry, we have supplies to give them, blankets, toiletries, food. We even have dog food if they need it."In the end, perhaps the most valuable asset to the homeless community is the data acquired from the survey, which could lead to increased funding that could fill the gaps with services, perhaps even leading to preventive measures against homelessness."We're limited in the resources that we have. They're growing, but we don't have an emergency shelter here," Cummings said. "If we can get the funding that we need, maybe we can get those things, like emergency shelters, women's shelters, something to help them."Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services is still seeking out volunteers for the upcoming count. To volunteer your services or donate supplies, please contact the committee at 610-377-6400.