HOPE 2007 Seeks Vols

The city Department of Homeless Services is seeking volunteers to participate in its annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE 2007) on January 29.

Agency officials said they are seeking thousands of volunteers to canvass parks, subways, shopping districts and other public spaces where the homeless gather to count the number of homeless people living on city streets.

Officials said anyone possessing a true interest in helping the homeless is urged to volunteer to spend the night on city streets participating in the count. Volunteers will receive training and will be accompanied by an experienced social service provider, the officials said.

Each team will consist of four or five volunteers who will be assigned to a small study area located within the five boroughs. Each team will be responsible for determining how many homeless people are in its specific area and will be required to gather “visible” demographic information pertaining to the area, officials said.

During the outreach, volunteers will be able to refer any interested homeless person to transportation to a shelter, where he or she will be interviewed to receive services.

Volunteers must be available to meet at 10:30 p.m. on January 29 at a given location, where they will receive additional training and orientation. Teams will then turn out throughout the city to count the number of homeless people on the streets through 4 a.m.

The outreach will not be cancelled for rain or light snow. It will only be rescheduled in the event of extreme weather, officials said. The reschedule date is February 5.

Volunteers are urged to call 1-800- 994-6494 or go online to the DHS Web site at www.nyc.gov/dhs to find how to volunteer or to check for cancellation.

Volunteers will be notified of their assigned location prior to the outreach. Officials said the agency will honor all requests for placement in the neighborhood of [the volunteer’s] choice.”

—Liz Goff