SARAH is the designated lead Continuum of Care agency tasked by HUD to continuously care and improve the current system in place to end homelessness in San Antonio and Bexar County. They provide strategic system coordination and maximize funding, resources, research, data, and advocacy to assist homeless service providers in housing individuals and families efficiently and permanently.
The best way for the community to get involved is by volunteering in the annual Point-in-Time Count (the next one is scheduled for January 2021). Other nonprofit organizations, faith-based communities, or community members can get involved by donating masks for volunteers and consumers for the 2021 Point-in-Time Count, as well as socks, hygiene kit items, winter hats, and gloves for people experiencing homelessness.
The annual Point-in-Time Count, conducted on a single night in January, is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio. HUD requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of homeless persons who are sheltered in emergency shelter and transitional housing on a single night; the results of this count help SARAH, the city, and other organizations make data-driven decisions to meet the specific needs of the city's most vulnerable community members.
Every year, about 400 volunteers participate in this count. There are general trainings for first-time volunteers and team leads.
