Staff Report SAN MARCOS– On Jan. 23, the Hays County Homeless Coalition, in partnership with Texas Homeless Network (THN), local agencies and volunteers, will conduct the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an initiative aimed at assessing homelessness in the community. This one-day census will provide vital data to help shape future programs and resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The PIT Count is a nationwide effort mandated by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to collect data on homelessness. Each year, communities across the country gather information on the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The data not only helps to quantify the issue, but also guides local policy and funding decisions.
'Understanding the scope of homelessness in our community is essential to developing effective solutions,' said Peyton Wagner, Hays County behavioral health coordinator and chair of the PIT planning team.
'The PIT Count allows us to identify trends, allocate resources more effectively and engage the community in addressing this pressing issue.'
Volunteers will be deployed throughout the county to conduct surveys and provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness. The data submitted to THN will be analyzed and reported to HUD, contributing to a national understanding of homelessness trends. Community members can participate by volunteering, spreading awareness or contributing to local shelters and support services.
'We are grateful to the volunteers and partners who dedicate their time to this important work,' said Nancy Heintz, member of the Hays County Homeless Coalition Board of Directors. 'Together, we can create a clearer snapshot of homelessness and work collaboratively to implement solutions that ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.'
For more information on how to get involved with the PIT Count, contact this year’s volunteer coordinator Tyler Staton at tyler. [email protected], or PIT committee chair Peyton Wagner at [email protected].
