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Homeless Count
Why We Count
The annual Point-In-Time Count (PIT Count) is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the local Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process to obtain a snapshot census of people experiencing homelessness in our community on one night in January. This funding provides permanent housing (i.e., Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing), supportive services, and planning funds to our community to assist people experiencing homelessness with greater self-determination. Most recently, the PIT Count brought more than $41 million to our area in the 2019 application process.
The count includes people who, on the night of the count, are:
– Sheltered (living in emergency shelters or transitional housing) or
– Unsheltered (staying out doors or places not designed for habitation including vehicles, streets, parks and abandoned buildings)
The PIT Count is an essential element in our effort to end homelessness, as the data gathered from this census shows us so much more than how many people are homeless in our community – we also learn more about who is homeless and why. The PIT Count presents a great opportunity to raise awareness of the myriad challenges our homeless citizens face, hear personal experiences from those experiencing homelessness, and demonstrate the compassion and generosity of our community!
When, Where, & How
When:
- Official sheltered count (night of the count) for HUD will occur on January 19, 2021
- Unsheltered Count – January 20-22 & 25-29, 2021
Where:
- All of Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County
- Inner 610 loop
- East of I-45 & 288
- West of I-45 & 288
How:
- In a typical year: The Homeless Count & Survey follows the methodology that was implemented in 2016: One night in January is designated as the official night of record for the Count. On this night, shelter data is pulled from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), as well as sent in manually from organizations who do not participate in HMIS (such as Domestic Violence shelters). The data gathered on that night will be used as the sheltered homeless count. The unsheltered count takes place over the following three days. Specialized outreach teams, including trained volunteers, conduct brief, conversational surveys with individuals who slept unsheltered on the night of record.
- In 2021, because of the coronavirus pandemic, things will work a little differently. In the interest of protecting everyone’s health and safety during the pandemic, we will not be using community volunteers to conduct the unsheltered count. We will also not use the staging location structure nor distribute maps. Instead, outreach teams and staff from the Coalition for the Homeless and other agencies in The Way Home Continuum of Care will conduct the Count. Because fewer people will be conducting the unsheltered count, it is scheduled to take place over eight days instead of three. Those that will be volunteering will be able to select the region in which they wish to survey via the online registration portal.
PIT Count Registration Information
A note for the 2021 Count: In the interest of protecting everyone’s health and safety during the ongoing COVID pandemic, we will not be using community volunteers. Instead, outreach teams and staff from the Coalition for the Homeless and other agencies in The Way Home Continuum of Care will conduct the Count. To sign-up for the 2021 PIT Count, register for a training session, and view additional 2021 PIT Count information, click on the links below.
- Friday, January 15, 2021 at 8:00 AM
- Friday, January 15, 2021 at 1:00 PM
- Monday, January 18, 2021 at 3:00 PM
- Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 11:00 AM
- Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 5:00 PM
- 2021 Volunteer Training Recording
- 2021 Volunteer Training Packet
- 2021 Big PIT Count Map
- 2021 Small PIT Count Map
