Arizona officials want to understand how many young people are experiencing homelessness across the state. The state is launching a new survey this week to find the answer.
Every year, cities nationwide participate in the Point-In-Time street count to try to estimate the size of their local homeless population. But those annual surveys likely undercount young people, said Matthew Finley, interim special projects administrator with the Maricopa Association of Governments.
“Youth are not in the same places that adults and families who are experiencing homelessness are,” Finley said. “Youth are really good at blending in and may not be familiar to the systems of support available to them.”
So this year, in addition to the annual Point-In-Time count, Arizona will run a second survey just for people aged 18 to 24.
“This youth count is meant to meet youth where they are, whether they are sleeping on the street, whether they are in a shelter program, a hotel, whether they are couch-surfing or staying with friends,” Finley said.
The AZ Youth Count will begin on Jan. 27 — the same day as the Point-In-Time count — but it will stay open to responses through Feb. 13. The survey will be conducted through street outreach, interviews at shelters and community centers, and virtual appointments. Participants who complete the survey will receive a $25 gift card.
Last year’s Point-In-Time counts across Arizona tallied more than 800 unaccompanied youth in the state. Finley said organizers of the AZ Youth Count hope to speak with at least that many participants for their new survey this year.
Finley said the data from the AZ Youth Count will help the state provide more targeted programs to prevent youth homelessness.
“This specialized count is meant to get an understanding of where they’re staying, what their homelessness looks like, and what services they’re using, what services are working best for them, and what services they would like to use in the future,” Finley said.
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