Point-in-Time CountJanuary 2011

What Does It Mean to Count Homeless People?

A “count” = collecting information about the sheltered and unsheltered homeless population in your community

Data on thenumber of homeless

people

+

Descriptive information on those counted

•Demographic •Service Use •Needs

=Point-in-time

count of homeless

people

It is possible just to do a count, but preferable to gather descriptive information, too - it will make your count much more valuable and informative!

Why is the PIT Important?

• Identify gaps in services• Generates resources for the community• Local data for planning & measuring

progress• Data is reported in CoC application• AHAR to Congress• HUD Data Exchange System (HDX)

Data Collected

• Subpopulation Information required for CoC– Chronically homeless– Severely mentally ill– Chronic substance abuse– Veterans– Persons with HIV/AIDS– Victims of domestic violence– Unaccompanied youth (Under 18)– Persons with physical disabilities

Additional Data

• Medical care• Transportation issues• Education• Employment• Childcare• Locality of homelessness

Methods for Data Collection

• Provider data collection– Total number of households and persons residing in

facilities on the night of the count– Number in each of the seven subpopulation

categories

• Client level data collection– Staff complete individual surveys for each client using

case management records or their knowledge of the client

– CoC staff, volunteers, or program staff interview clients directly

Challenges for Rural Areas

• Lack of shelters• Where to look for

unsheltered homeless people

• Remoteness• Availability of staff and

volunteer resources• Belief that there are no,

or very few, unsheltered homeless

• Limited resources/funding

Overcoming Challenges– Engage local departments

of social services– Call upon local colleges

and universities– Utilize the faith community– Make contact with local

jails– Mail carriers– Contact mental health

agencies/community service boards

– You may even want to contact local hotel owners that may know of people who stay periodically

When to Start. . .

– At least 6 months prior to January due date

– Train volunteers– Conduct a trial run for

unsheltered count with emphasis on engaging street homeless

– Meet with service providers

– Review prior year’s survey for inconsistencies

Your Survey Tool

– Keep the survey instrument simple

– Collect universal data elements (race, gender, ethnicity)

– Develop key codes to ensure there is no duplication

Resources

• www.hudhre.gov• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_unsheltered.pdf• http://www.hudhre.info/documents/counting_sheltered.pdf

You have not lived a perfect day...unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

~ Ruth Smeltzer