Count for hope,
Count for change,
Count because you care.
Every day, numerous individuals in our community struggle with homelessness, facing not just the harshness of life on the streets but also barriers to essential healthcare.
A hospital point in time count is our chance to shine a light on their stories and needs. Surveying every individual in the hospital can help us gather vital information that reveals the true scale of housing insecurity and need.
This data will guide us in creating compassionate, targeted interventions to support individuals in their hardest moments. In order to reach everyone hospitalized on a single night, WE NEED YOU!
#CareToCount2025
Volunteer Information
For Clinicians
If you are currently working at UKHC or Good Samaritan, you can volunteer and gain:
- a better understanding of patients’ housing needs
- increased compassionate informed care
- CEs for needed training
For Students
By volunteering as a student, you can have the experience of:
- impactful advocacy
- empower vulnerable voices
- engage with the community
- experience with research
- residency application service participation
For Healthcare Organizations
Please click here if you are an interested healthcare organization and wish to have a point-in-time count conducted at your hospital.
Can we count on you?
A Point-in-Time count is an approach to identify homeless populations by surveying individuals on the street and in shelters. It occurs across communities every year at the same time. Unfortunately, individuals in the hospital are left out of this count. We want to make sure their voices are heard!
What will I do as a volunteer?
You will volunteer for 2-4 hours on January 29, 2025 at 6:30pm, along with other chosen volunteers to survey every patient at UKHC, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Kentucky Children's Hospital.
You will administer a brief 10-15 minute survey to 20 or so patients about their housing and health.
If you are not already trained in responsible conduct of research and protection of human subjects, we will offer that to you! After completing these two brief trainings, you will be certified to collect data and interact with human subjects with this and future projects.
Continuity,
Consistency,
Compassion
This project will provide hospitals and researchers with crucial information to improve healthcare for individuals with housing needs or who are at risk of homelessness. As a volunteer you will gather information that will support initiatives around:
- Medical Respites
- Connecting patients to the right care with the right person
- Specialized care management
- Interventions reducing homelessness risk
- and so many more…