The Community Action Commission of Fayette County will hold the 2016 “Point-In-Time” count for the homeless on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

The Point-In-Time Count is an annual event in which volunteers team up with members of the Fayette County Community Action Commission to seek out and document Fayette County’s homeless and at-risk residents. The Point-In-Time Count is very important because it assists Community Action in planning future services geared toward ending homelessness, understanding changes in trends among homeless populations, complying with reporting requirements from funders, and justifying the need for continued resources to aid the homeless.

Last year, the Fayette County Continuum of Care conducted an orientation for any volunteers interested in helping with the Ohio Point-In-Time Homeless count. Volunteers learned about basic duties, the Point-ln-Time Count method, how to approach an individual, and how to obtain the necessary information for the count.

“We are actively seeking volunteers to help locate our local homeless the evening of Jan. 26, and are also accepting donations to provide for our homeless,” Dreama Brown of CAC Fayette County recently wrote about the event. “There will also be a ‘Drop-In’ center held on Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rose Avenue Community Center.”

Community Action is asking for items to be donated, including: socks, blankets, tents, tarps, gloves, hats, scarves, flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and any hygiene products (shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, etc.).

Potential volunteers can contact Dreama Brown at (740) 335-7282 to schedule a training time. Any donations can be dropped off at Community Action, which is located at 1400 U.S. Route 22 NW (right beside OK Tire) in Washington C.H.