Point in Time Count

Augusta’s local homeless coalition, the Homeless Task Force, also known as the Continuum of Care (CoC), is proud to announce the kick-off for the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which will begin the week of January 23, 2023. The CoC invites volunteers across the CSRA to join in this vital effort to help survey Augusta’s homeless population.

“This count is one of our most important tools to understand who the folks experiencing homelessness in our community are,” states Bethany Trapp, CoC Executive Board representative and Principal Organizer of the 2023 PIT Count. “This is far more than a mere head count. The survey gives us insights into the challenges our neighbors face in the community. It is also a way for those who care about homelessness to get involved and make a difference in their local community. I’ve never been more excited about the PIT count than I am this year. We’ve got a great plan, a great team of volunteers and a great need to make connections with our neighbors living in crisis!”

The PIT count is the most comprehensive count for homeless populations who are currently sheltered and unsheltered across the country. Federal Law and Regulations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requires all cities in America to produce an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a one-day point in time during the last 10 days of January.  Information from more than 450 communities across America is then combined in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (AHAR).

Volunteers assisting with survey administration will join groups around Augusta on the night of January 26, 2023 and begin canvassing areas of the community where homeless residents are known to stay in order to conduct surveys with them about their housing status and related information. In 2021, over 200 volunteers assisted in community canvassing activities, which brought City of Augusta staff and community volunteers from service organizations, public and private agencies, faith-based partners and private community members into count areas for direct contact with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.  

Enclosed with this release is the 2020 PIT Count Schedule and logistics for your reference. The CoC would like to invite interested members of the media to attend one of the Hot Spot events, or other activities with the exception of the shelter locations on Tuesday afternoon.  Media requests should be directed to Daniel Evans at [email protected] or 706-821-2886.  Please utilize #AugPIT in any social media posts regarding this year’s events.

The CoC is composed of nonprofit homeless providers, government stakeholders, faith-based entities, private businesses, community advocates, public housing agencies, local universities, affordable housing developers, law enforcement, and homeless and formerly homeless persons. The CoC works together to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring in our local community. 

Point in Time Volunteer Refresher Handout

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