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To Address This Tragedy We Must Know How Big It Is

We know it; we see it; and we’re all profoundly disturbed by it: the reality of men and women shivering homeless this winter on New York City streets. 

Please join us in doing something about it.

The only way to address this tragedy is to first know how big it is.  So this Monday, January 28^th, team with Catholic Charities NY for the 2019 Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE), a citywide community volunteer effort to count every New Yorker sleeping on the street across the five boroughs during the coldest time of year.  You, your friends and family can join us to canvass parks, subways, and other public spaces.

HOPE remains one of the most comprehensive efforts nationwide to assess service needs and allocate resources for individuals who are experiencing chronic street homelessness.  The Department of Homeless Services also employs a comprehensive, year-round outreach program, through which teams engage the street homeless population 24 hours a day, seven days a week, citywide and bring services directly to those in need, as well as alternatives to traditional shelter, such as safe havens and stabilization beds.

To prepare and put this issue in perspective, Catholic Charities is hosting a special panel discussion featuring formerly homeless folks we serve featured in Susan Greenfield’s critically-acclaimed book, Sacred Shelter, along with some of our all-star staff who serve them. This free panel discussion will be held immediately before the canvasing from 8:30 - 10:15 at Bubo Restaurant, 515 3rd Avenue, NYC.

Catholic Charities will help canvas in three sites in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island:    

1.       Manhattan         PS 116, 210 East 33^rd Street

2.       Bronx                 Hostos Community College, 500 Grand Concourse – Savoy Building

3.       Staten Island      South Richmond High School, 6581 Hylan Blvd, down Cunningham Rd

And please don’t worry:

·         Training will be provided

·         Volunteers are asked to report at their site at 10 pm. 

·         The count officially goes from 10 pm to 4 am but most volunteers are done by 2 a.m.

·         Catholic Charities will have a team leader at each location

Sign up is simple -- just 2 steps:

1.       Register online

2.       Email ccvolunteer@archny.org to let us know which site you’ve have registered for.  We will have a Catholic Charities team leader at each location.  

Remember on HOPE day and every day: call 311 to dispatch a team to the aid of someone living on the streets.