Stories from the 2024 Point-in-Time Count

In late January, NAHRO members across the country participated in Point-in-Time (PIT) counts of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in their local area. Lead by Continuums of Care (CoCs) and staffed by housers and housing advocates, the goal of these periodic assessments is to understand who our unhoused neighbors are, what they need and then use that data to allocate and advocate for more resources to support them.

From drop-in centers in West Virginia to resource fairs in Alabama, local creativity was on display to not only collect this much-needed data, but also to connect individuals and families with the services and assistance they need to succeed.

NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele served on an outreach team during the January 24 overnight Washington D.C. PIT count, working with hundreds of volunteers to survey and provide aid to people experiencing homelessness.

In Anne Arundel County (MD), NAHRO Housing Committee Chair and VP Lanita Hillen reported that the CoC conducted their survey on Wednesday, January 24 with support from the Arundel House of Hope Day and Resources Center as well as the Light House Safe Harbour Resource Center.

In Anaheim (CA), NAHRO Community Revitalization & Development Committee Chair and VP Grace Stepter shared that she and the Anaheim Housing and Community Development (AHCD) staff participated in the multi-day Orange County unsheltered count, with teams starting their 6-hour shifts as early as 3:00 AM. Covering the North Service Planning Area, staff from all levels and departments gained new insights and saw the impact of their work first-hand, specifically noticing an increase in homelessness among seniors and the elderly.

In Texarkana (TX), the local homeless coalition met early on Thursday, January 25, handing out breakfast, snacks and supplies at Mission Texarkana before moving to Randy Sams Outreach Shelter.

In Beaver County (PA), former MARC NAHRO President Kathy Walter reported that the local CoC deployed 11 teams — many with lived experience with homelessness — to canvas the exurban and rural county on Tuesday, January 23, while others visited over a dozen drop-in centers, soup kitchens, service and treatment providers, churches and schools. A truly community effort, local school children assisted with assembling the outreach supply bags that were distributed during the count, and emergency responders were on standby to provide needed medical care.

These heartwarming stories remind us that the work we do as Housers is not just fulfilling, it is essential. The alarming December 2023 HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report — revealing a 12% increase (compared to 2022) in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness during last year’s PIT Count — clearly demonstrates the need to act on the nationwide housing crisis is stronger now more than ever. We hope you will join NAHRO as we continue to advocate for full and continued funding for homelessness prevention services as well as programs to quickly and permanently house unsheltered individuals and families.