Volunteers needed for homeless census, ‘Count us in’ Friday at Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter

The Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter has been invited to participate in King County’s annual point-in-time census of homeless populations, Count Us In. The event, previously known as the One Night Count will be Friday, Jan. 27.

According to All Home, which is organizing this year’s count, the core purpose of the event is to collect data on the needs of people experiencing homeless, but the count also helps to increase awareness of homelessness.

While most King County areas will count in the middle of the night, the shelter will conduct a daytime count in the Snoqualmie Valley. Teams of about four people will be sent to areas throughout the Valley to conduct the count. Each team will be led by guides, possibly shelter clients, or others with knowledge about locations of encampments, and people sleeping in vehicles.

Each team will tally individuals based on visual observation only. No personal information will be taken and all locations will be kept in strict confidence.

At least 30 volunteers are needed to support this effort. Sign up to volunteer at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingCountyVolunteerSignUp, and be sure to specify Snoqualmie Valley as the location.

A one-hour training session for volunteers will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the American Legion Hall, 38652 S.E. River St., Snoqualmie.

On the day of the count, teams will meet at 8 a.m. at the American Legion Hall for a quick orientation, then head out about 8:30 a.m. The count is estimated to take four hours.