2020 Conducting a Point-in-Time Count (ARCHIVE)

Conducting a Point-in-Time Count is important for all communities. The count provides a snapshot of who is homeless on a given night. This information can be used to plan local homeless assistance systems, to tailor programs to meet existing needs, and to raise public awareness of homelessness.
 
The Point-in-Time Count is a one-day, statistically reliable, unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in the country. 
 
HUD requires that all Continuums of Care conduct a Point-in-Time Count each year during the last ten days of January. Programs that have beds dedicated to serve homeless individuals and families also conduct a bed inventory for the Housing Inventory Count. 

Balance of State Point in Time (PIT) and Housing Inventory Count (HIC)

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020.
 
The Point in Time Count documents everyone experiencing homelessness on the night of January 29th. We count everyone who is unsheltered, in emergency shelters or transitional housing. We also take a census of people who exited homelessness and are part of a rapid re-housing or permanent housing program and will be counting all of the emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent housing beds and units in our system. This is called the Housing Inventory Count and helps us understand the capacity of our current system. Regional Point in Time Count Teams will recruit volunteers and partner with shelters, transitional housing, and permanent housing programs to ensure that everyone is counted.
 
This year we're using the Counting Us app to interview people who are unsheltered. The unsheltered count documents people who are sleeping in on the streets, on park benches, under bridges as well as people who are in tents or encampments, vehicles, and abandoned buildings. Some communities will do outreach in places such as soup kitchens within a week after the night of the count, asking "where did you sleep last night?" in an effort to connect with and count everyone.
 
We're also using the Counting Us app to interview people at emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and permanent housing programs that do not use HMIS (the Homeless Management Information System). If you are an emergency shelter or transitional housing program and will need extra help conducting interviews using the app on the night of the count, contact your Regional Point in Time Count Lead or the Balance of State team. For programs using HMIS, the Data Center team will help pull reports directly from HMIS to document who was in the program on the night of the count.
 
To get involved in the count, reach out to your Regional Point in Time Lead {live link to PDF} or contact the NC Balance of State CoC {live link to BoS contact page}
 
 
Counting Us App
The Counting Us App is used nationwide and has a technical support team on hand to help NCCEH launch it in the Balance of State. The Counting Us app can be used on phones, tablets, and computers. The Counting Us App will be launched for people to test it out beginning November 13, 2019. We invite everyone to log in and try the app out ahead of time! Any data entered during the testing phase will not be included in the Point In Time Count results. 

Upcoming Training
Trainings are open to everyone: Regional  Point in Time Team members, Agency Staff, and Volunteers. NCCEH staff will offer an overview of the 2020 count and provide step-by-step training on how to use the Counting Us App. If you're supporting the count or are volunteer or staff member who will be conducting the 2020 PIT Count, this training is for you! Every other training will be a Virtual Open Office session where people can come get help using the app, talk about ideas, and get feedback from the NCCEH team.
  • Wednesday, November 13, 1:30-3:30 | Counting Us App Basics: Slides Recording
  • Wednesday, November 20, 1:30-2:30 | Virtual Open Office Session 
  • Monday, November 25,      1:30-2:30 | Counting Us App Basics + Tips: Slides Recording
  • Wednesday, December 11, 1:30-2:30 | Virtual Open Office Session 
  • Wednesday, December 18, 1:30-2:30 | Conducting the Count & Orientation to the App: Slides Recording
  • Wednesday, January 15,    1:30-2:30 | Virtual Open Office Session 
To join the meetings: log in here: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/791696621 
Audio: (646) 749-3112 and Access Code: 791-696-621   
 
 
Regional Point in Time Count Teams
The role of regional teams is to work with volunteers, agencies, and community partners to conduct the Point in Time Count in their region. 
  • Orientation - The What, Why, and How of the Point in Time and Housing Inventory Count Process
NCCEH is hosting calls for Regional Point in Time Count Teams to review progress, brainstorm, and develop strategies to conduct the Point in Time Count.
  • December 4,  1:30-2:30      Slides   Recording
  • January 8,     1:30-2:30
  • January 22,   1:30-2:30
  • January 31,   1:30-2:30
To join the meetings: log in here: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/791696621 
Audio: (646) 749-3112 and Access Code: 791-696-621