The Homeless Alliance of Western New York will be conducting a survey of homeless and at risk individuals and families in Buffalo and Erie County tomorrow beginning at 8 am. The survey will be conducted by over 200 volunteers at over 70 locations in Buffalo and Erie County including survey sites in Amherst, Hamburg, Orchard Park, East Aurora, and Springville. The Homeless Alliance expects to talk to over 1200 respondents during the 24 hour period.
This survey is a follow-up to a similar survey taken in 2004 where 165 Homeless Alliance volunteers spoke to over 1000 homeless and low-income individuals and families in an effort to gain a greater understanding of the makeup of the homeless and at-risk population as well as what services are needed in our community and how services are accessed, and delivered.
Three “street teams” made up of seasoned homeless caseworkers will talk to individuals on the street in the downtown area as well as the lower east side and west side areas overnight from 10 pm until 8 am on Friday the 25th.
Homeless Alliance staff intends to blog throughout the day on the progress of the survey so please make sure to check this space and comment if you like.
