Point in Time 2013

Wednesday, January 30 Thursday, January 31 is the annual Point in Time survey, and Georgetown Ministry Center needs volunteers to help! Do you know where a homeless person sleeps at night? Are you willing to canvass the streets with us on the 30th 31st? If so, please read on!

What is the Point in Time?
The Point In Time survey is a coordinated, annual count of individuals and families in the region who are homeless.  This year, the count for unsheltered individuals will be conducted on Wednesday, January 30 Thursday, January 31, 2013, between 9:30pm and 2am.

Why is this survey done?
The information will be used to help determine the need for supportive services in the District. It will also help the District learn how homeless assistance organizations can better assist their clients.

What can I do to help?
There are two ways to help:

• If you know where a homeless individuals camps out at night, please let GMC staff know so that we can reach out to that person during the PIT survey. This will help us minimize the time we will have to spend walking around at night.
• Come by Georgetown Ministry Center at 9:30pm on Wednesday, January 30 Thursday, January 31 to help GMC staff canvass the streets. If possible, please let us know that you plan on volunteering that night so we can plan out teams. (Email Stephanie at stephanie@gmcgt.org or call 202-338-8301.)

This post has been edited to reflect the new PIT date.

Last Wednesday, we posted one of the poems we collected about GMC and said we would post another on the following Monday. Here is another piece that we received, written by a member, William.

In the aspect of life, knowing and becoming one with the elements of life is an experience that is overwhelming. To get in touch with your inner peace is to know God and the coming of his salvation. At Georgetown Ministry Center, they help you with your goals in life and the prosperity of humanity. This is a place of recognition and growth within yourself, as long as you’re willing to take the steps to help yourself. The ministry will work with you.

One of our wonderful volunteers told me the other day about a young woman she saw on TV who had invented a coat that be turned into a sleeping bag at night. Veronika Scott initially came up with this idea for a project during her junior year of college for her design activism class.

This is such a wonderful idea. There are many homeless individuals who prefer sleeping on the streets for safety, privacy, or mental health related issues. All of them need warmth. Many of them would probably prefer not to carry around extra bedding everywhere they went.

Ms. Scott now runs a non-proft, The Empowerment Plan, which trains and pays recently homeless women to make these coats. You can read more about her and her invention here.

Recently, we asked our members, staff, volunteers, and friends to pen a poem about Georgetown Ministry Center’s work and mission. The original reason was actually for a grant that would be awarded to the organization with the best poem, but this little project turned into something wonderful.

Today and for the next few Mondays, we will be publishing the poems we received, which were written by both GMC members and staff. Check back here next Monday for the next poem, or read it on our Facebook page! You will be able to read all of the poetry blog entries if you search by tag for “poetry.”

This first poem was written by Ms. Kathalene.

GMC is a one-stop shop service center.
When you start to attend you do not want to stop.
There is plenty to do, and people to meet
Not to mention all of the food to eat.
Many games are played, while clothes get washed.
Showers, computers, and donations are available each day
Which makes it hard to stay away.
There are meetings each week to suit your need,
Even doctors are there for your medical and psychiatric cares.
If there is any place better we cannot tell
Because, each day GMC doors are open, there are not any vacant chairs.
Several classes are taught through the week of a different sort.
With all the things going on at GMC, no one comes up short.

The Washington DC VA Medical Center is free health, consultative, psychological, and support services to homeless and at-risk veterans on January 12 from 9:00am – 2:00pm! There is free transportation for vets from certain metro stops. If you know of a homeless or at-risk veteran, please pass the message along!

Click the image at left to see the full DC Stand Down Flyer