Point in Time in the News
TV coverage from WBAY TV 2 requesting volunteers and talking about the count here: Volunteers Needed to Count the Homeless
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BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) — Brown County housing advocates are seeking volunteers to participate in the upcoming Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, scheduled to take place overnight from July 24 to July 25, 2024, between 11:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. This event collects data on the individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community to better understand their needs, identify trends, and to develop effective solutions.
Communities across Wisconsin conduct the PIT count twice per year, once in January and once in July. The count is intended to capture information about the homeless population to create a “snapshot” of what homelessness looks like in a neighborhood, city, or state. For the full article, go here. |
Point in Time Count Experience
By Wendy Nasgovitz
Submitted by Tara Prahl- Ecumenical Partnership for Housing
"In the early hours of July 25 - 3:30am early - some of the EPH team took part in the PIT count (Point in Time). This is a bi-annual event where volunteers go out into all areas of Brown County and across the state looking for those who may be experiencing unsheltered homelessness. People found are provided information about resources in the community, asked if they would be willing to answer a survey, and counted. The purpose of the Point in Time count is to provide a snapshot of homelessness in a community to better understand needs, identify trends, and develop solutions.
I have participated in this event multiple times since I have been with EPH. All the previous times we were sent to the outlying areas of Brown County, and in the search, we never came across a person that may have needed services. This time our team was given the opportunity to search areas closer to the city of Green Bay. Given specific locations to go and no idea of what to expect, we ventured out into the night.
The first location we were assigned to go, we found multiple cars with windows slightly open and people trying to sleep for the night. As our team went from car to car and location to location on the given map, my heart started to hurt. A sadness was settling deep inside for all those who did not have a bed to stretch out in. Who wouldn’t wake up in the comfort of a home where they could shower or use a familiar bathroom. Who didn’t have a faucet to go to grab a glass of water. Simple things we sometimes take for granted.
Our allotted time for our assignment for the PIT count came to an end and we didn’t have time to search all the areas. I wanted to keep going. I wanted to keep looking, not really for the PIT count, which is a very important number, but for all those who may be in the cars who are worth being found. Who are worth our time to let them know they are loved. Who are worthy of the simple things- shelter, food, and clothing..."
By Wendy Nasgovitz
Submitted by Tara Prahl- Ecumenical Partnership for Housing
"In the early hours of July 25 - 3:30am early - some of the EPH team took part in the PIT count (Point in Time). This is a bi-annual event where volunteers go out into all areas of Brown County and across the state looking for those who may be experiencing unsheltered homelessness. People found are provided information about resources in the community, asked if they would be willing to answer a survey, and counted. The purpose of the Point in Time count is to provide a snapshot of homelessness in a community to better understand needs, identify trends, and develop solutions.
I have participated in this event multiple times since I have been with EPH. All the previous times we were sent to the outlying areas of Brown County, and in the search, we never came across a person that may have needed services. This time our team was given the opportunity to search areas closer to the city of Green Bay. Given specific locations to go and no idea of what to expect, we ventured out into the night.
The first location we were assigned to go, we found multiple cars with windows slightly open and people trying to sleep for the night. As our team went from car to car and location to location on the given map, my heart started to hurt. A sadness was settling deep inside for all those who did not have a bed to stretch out in. Who wouldn’t wake up in the comfort of a home where they could shower or use a familiar bathroom. Who didn’t have a faucet to go to grab a glass of water. Simple things we sometimes take for granted.
Our allotted time for our assignment for the PIT count came to an end and we didn’t have time to search all the areas. I wanted to keep going. I wanted to keep looking, not really for the PIT count, which is a very important number, but for all those who may be in the cars who are worth being found. Who are worth our time to let them know they are loved. Who are worthy of the simple things- shelter, food, and clothing..."
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If you want to help plan the PIT, volunteer to participate in the overnight street count, or
have questions about the PIT in your community, please contact your local coalition PIT Lead here.
have questions about the PIT in your community, please contact your local coalition PIT Lead here.
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To submit local information about the Point in Time Count, please send to Kate Markwardt. |
If you have any questions, comments or concerns related to the WI BoS PIT count, please contact Kate Markwardt or Carrie Poser. |
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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
WHO
This count is intended to include persons that are homeless and are staying 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 24th, 2024
- Overnight Street Count/Known Location Count End:
- PIT count must end no later than 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25th, 2024
- Service Based Post-Count End:
- The post-PIT survey process begins at 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25th and ends Wednesday, July 31st, at 5:00 pm.
- 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 staying 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
(1) PIT changes for 2024 include updated selections for race ethnicity and gender.
(2) 2024 Unsheltered Observation PIT form
(3) Unsheltered PIT Survey
(5) PIT volunteer mileage in-kind form (paper version)
(6) PIT volunteer time in-kind form (paper version)
(7) HIC- Housing Inventory Chart Change Form
(8) WI Balance of State PIT Data Guide- The Point in Time (PIT) Guide is intended to provide guidance for PIT Leads on the data collection part of the PIT Count, including data completion, gathering data from other agency partners and putting it all together.
(9) Point in Time (PIT) Methodology *pending*- will be a guide that covers the actual PIT planning process and requirements.
(2) 2024 Unsheltered Observation PIT form
(3) Unsheltered PIT Survey
- Remember, this is the document that must be completed during the overnight street/known location count AND during the service based post-count
(5) PIT volunteer mileage in-kind form (paper version)
(6) PIT volunteer time in-kind form (paper version)
(7) HIC- Housing Inventory Chart Change Form
(8) WI Balance of State PIT Data Guide- The Point in Time (PIT) Guide is intended to provide guidance for PIT Leads on the data collection part of the PIT Count, including data completion, gathering data from other agency partners and putting it all together.
(9) Point in Time (PIT) Methodology *pending*- will be a guide that covers the actual PIT planning process and requirements.
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.
Click here to watch the recording.
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.
Click here to watch the recording.
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.
Click here to watch the recording. attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/698230986075659267
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.
Click here to watch the recording. attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/3381271358230019329
Resources
Community Partner and Post PIT County Slide Deck
New in 2024
PIT Lead Training
This training is required for all PIT leads across the BOS . It covers the overview of the process, requirements of the position, and timeline of events.
Resources
PIT Lead Training Slide Deck
Recording
Non-HMIS, Deduplication and Observation Only Forms refresher
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.
Resources
Click here to watch the recording. attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/177556167172422231
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. The Housing Inventory Chart is a requirement of HUD for the Continuum of Care (CoC) to have. It is essentially a live inventory of all beds and units in the CoC dedicated for those experiencing homelessness at any given time. The HIC includes the following project types: Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Other Permanent Supportive Housing (this is permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness but without the requirement of disability), Safe Haven, and Rapid Rehousing. All projects with beds dedicated to those experiencing homelessness regardless of whether the project uses HMIS or receives Federal/State funding.
Resources
Click here to watch the recording. attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8306358881110633565
PIT Safety Training *new in 2024*
PIT Training: Making Connections
Thank you to our Featured Guest: Corin Tubridy, Vivent Health
This training will assist those conducting the street count how to safely and appropriately engage someone experiencing homelessness using body language and non-verbal communication skills, what to do if someone gets hostile, how to best complete the survey and how to end the interaction.
Resources
Slides
To watch the recording, click here.
The WI Balance of State has 2 helpful guides:
WI Balance of State HIC Guide
The Housing Inventory Chart is a requirement of HUD for the Continuum of Care (CoC) to have. It is essentially a live inventory of all beds and units in the CoC dedicated for those experiencing homelessness at any given time. The HIC includes the following project types: Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Other Permanent Supportive Housing (this is permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness but without the requirement of disability), Safe Haven, and Rapid Rehousing.
This training goes through the HIC in detail. There is also a HIC Guide that is included with this training.
WI Balance of State PIT Data Guide
The Point in Time (PIT) Guide is intended to provide guidance for PIT Leads on the data collection part of the PIT count, including data completion, gathering data from other agency partners and putting it all together.
Point in Time (PIT) Methodology *pending
A guide that covers the actual PIT planning process and requirements.
