What is the Point-in-Time Count?
The Point-in-Time (PiT) count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. Continuums of Care also must conduct a count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness every other year. Each count is planned, coordinated, and carried out locally.
Why do a summer count?
The summer count is a great chance to gain experience on how to conduct a PiT count so that community leaders are more prepared for the next winter count. The data gathered from doing a summer count is also valuable information that can be used when applying for funding from local governments, United Ways, community foundations, local housing trusts, and other public and private grantmakers.
Training Video
Want to know how to prepare for and conduct a successful Point-in-Time count? Check out our virtual training, which focuses specifically on conducting the count in rural areas. This training is applicable both to the summer and winter counts.
