TIPS participating in homelessness survey

SANDPOINT — Transitions In Progress Services will be participating in a national survey that will help define the state of homelessness in America.

The starting date for Point-In-Time, an annual measurement of national homelessness, arrives next week, and TIPS is preparing to do its part. Organized through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s social service providers, known as Continuums of Care, Point-In-Time calculates regional need and helps determine the amount of funding organizations like TIPS receive.

“It affects funding on a federal level and has brought a lot of homelessness funds to (our region),” said Tamie Martinsen, TIPS program director.

Point-In-Time works centers around the night of the last Wednesday in January — in this case, Jan. 29.

This day is used because people who are homeless in January tend to be the people with truly serious homelessness problems and no social connections to rely upon, Martinsen said.

After Jan. 29, organizations will collect as much information as possible to determine the level of homelessness on that particular night. Associates do this by collaborating with other local service providers, schools, established clients and more. TIPS also works together with the Idaho Housing and Finance Association to complete the process.

According to Gina Graham of TIPS, the process takes a lot of legwork and investigation. Since federal funding is apportioned based on level of need, however, it’s important to have as complete a picture as possible, she said.

TIPS will have about a week to complete their investigations, Martinsen and Graham said. By the first Wednesday in February, they’re expected to turn in their data to HUD, which compiles the information into a complete study. Along with data collected by the Homeless Management Information System, it serves as the “primary source used to measure the progress in meeting the national strategic goal of preventing and ending homelessness,” according to HUD.

While recent reports suggest homelessness is declining nationwide — particularly among veterans — Martinsen said they don’t see that happening in Bonner County.

Their most frequent clients usually fall under the family or single mother categories of homelessness, she said, which often are triggered by different sets of circumstances.

Locals can help the process by forwarding on any information about homelessness cases between Jan. 29 and Feb. 5. Those who are in any kind of impermanent housing situation or have lost a stable residence should report their situation by calling 265-2952.

“If we can count those (cases), it gives us a more accurate view of our need,” Martinsen said.