July, 2025 PIT
overview of point in time activity
WHAT
A Point-In-Time, or PIT, count is a statistically reliable, unduplicated count of people experiencing homelessness during a designated one-night period. Wisconsin conducts this count twice per year.
WHEN
WHY
A PIT is intended to capture a minimum amount of information on the homeless population in order to create a “snapshot” of what homelessness looks like in a neighborhood, city, or state. The data collected through the Point-in-Time process is reported in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) that is provided to the U.S. Congress. Homeless information is also reported to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care.
WHO
This count is intended to include persons that are homeless and are living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, safe havens for the homeless, domestic violence shelters, or who are unsheltered living on the streets, or any other place not meant for human habitation.
WHERE
All across the state of Wisconsin and across the country, the Point in Time is conducted, by volunteers.
A Point-In-Time, or PIT, count is a statistically reliable, unduplicated count of people experiencing homelessness during a designated one-night period. Wisconsin conducts this count twice per year.
WHEN
- Overnight Street Count/Known Location Count Start:
- PIT count cannot start before 11:00 pm on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025.
- Overnight Street Count/Known Location Count End:
- PIT count must end no later than 6:00 am on Thursday, July 24th, 2025.
- Service Based Post-Count End:
- The post-PIT survey process begins at 6:00 am on Thursday, July 24 and ends Wednesday, July 31st, at 5:00 pm.
This means that if, for example, someone enters a shelter on Saturday and reports that they were homeless Wednesday night, you could administer the unsheltered count survey to them about Wednesday night. If there are questions about this, please let WI BoS staff know.
- The post-PIT survey process begins at 6:00 am on Thursday, July 24 and ends Wednesday, July 31st, at 5:00 pm.
WHY
A PIT is intended to capture a minimum amount of information on the homeless population in order to create a “snapshot” of what homelessness looks like in a neighborhood, city, or state. The data collected through the Point-in-Time process is reported in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) that is provided to the U.S. Congress. Homeless information is also reported to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care.
WHO
This count is intended to include persons that are homeless and are living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, safe havens for the homeless, domestic violence shelters, or who are unsheltered living on the streets, or any other place not meant for human habitation.
WHERE
All across the state of Wisconsin and across the country, the Point in Time is conducted, by volunteers.
Documents
Kate or Adam will share documents with PIT Leads.
training
WI BOS and ICA staff have completed accessible PIT trainings though a series called PIT Planning and Process. There are 3 trainings in the series. These trainings are required for any new PIT Leads.
Point-in-Time Training Series
PIT Process & Planning, Session 1
This webinar goes over the nuts and bolts of PIT methodology and any changes that have occurred with the process. Things that are covered include planning, such as who should participate, when should you go out, where should you go, how to count, changes to the survey forms, etc. Topics like after hours plan, the role of the SSO and importance of match collection are also covered.
Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
PIT Training #1 Slide Deck
COVID Safety Measures
PIT 2022 Instructions
HMIS & PIT Data, Session 2 *includes staff from ICA
This webinar is about all things PIT and HMIS. ICA staff review how to run reports in Clarity, collect data and how to clean up common errors.
Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
BOS PIT Training HMIS Resources
Putting it all Together, Session 3
This looks at the Non-HMIS form, Deduplication Chart, HMIS data and Post PIT survey and how it all fits together. Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
PIT Training #3 Slide Deck
Community Partner and Post PIT Survey
This training covers everything you need to know about the Post PIT Count such as what it is, who should be included, how to do the count, how to determine if someone is homeless if they are sleeping in ambiguous sleeping locations, and the PIT surveys. This is a good webinar to share with partners outside of the homeless services system to expand your Post PIT count. Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
Community Partner and Post PIT County Slide Deck
The following 2 Trainings are also REQUIRED for new PIT Leads.
Non-HMIS, Deduplication and Observation Only Forms refresher + New process!
This training is a refresher about common missing information on the Non-HMIS form and a few changes to the Deduplication Chart and the Observation Only Form process. Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) Training
This training goes through the HIC in detail. There is also a HIC Guide that is included with this training.
Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
WI BOS HIC Guide- please reach out to Kate or Adam for this resource.
PIT Process & Planning, Session 1
This webinar goes over the nuts and bolts of PIT methodology and any changes that have occurred with the process. Things that are covered include planning, such as who should participate, when should you go out, where should you go, how to count, changes to the survey forms, etc. Topics like after hours plan, the role of the SSO and importance of match collection are also covered.
Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
PIT Training #1 Slide Deck
COVID Safety Measures
PIT 2022 Instructions
HMIS & PIT Data, Session 2 *includes staff from ICA
This webinar is about all things PIT and HMIS. ICA staff review how to run reports in Clarity, collect data and how to clean up common errors.
Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
BOS PIT Training HMIS Resources
Putting it all Together, Session 3
This looks at the Non-HMIS form, Deduplication Chart, HMIS data and Post PIT survey and how it all fits together. Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
PIT Training #3 Slide Deck
Community Partner and Post PIT Survey
This training covers everything you need to know about the Post PIT Count such as what it is, who should be included, how to do the count, how to determine if someone is homeless if they are sleeping in ambiguous sleeping locations, and the PIT surveys. This is a good webinar to share with partners outside of the homeless services system to expand your Post PIT count. Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Resources
Community Partner and Post PIT County Slide Deck
The following 2 Trainings are also REQUIRED for new PIT Leads.
Non-HMIS, Deduplication and Observation Only Forms refresher + New process!
This training is a refresher about common missing information on the Non-HMIS form and a few changes to the Deduplication Chart and the Observation Only Form process. Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) Training
This training goes through the HIC in detail. There is also a HIC Guide that is included with this training.
Please reach out to Kate or Adam for the recording or any resources.
WI BOS HIC Guide- please reach out to Kate or Adam for this resource.