Churches United staff participate in annual point-in-time count

The HUD-mandated count gives snapshot of homelessness nationwide

Micah’s Mission staff were buzzing around Thursday morning and well into the early morning hours of Friday. The reason? The annual point-in-time (PIT) count.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development-mandated count takes place nationwide every January and has area agencies and organizations speaking with community members to get a rough snapshot of homelessness. The count had six Churches United staff speaking with community members to get an understanding of their living situation. Staff conduct a brief interview with community members, which is completely optional.

Staff members began by asking community members where they slept the previous night, and if it was a place not meant for human habitation – in a park, a car, an abandoned home, etc. – staff ask further questions, such as their history of homelessness, their veteran status, if they have any disabling conditions and so on.

Churches United’s chief of staff, Nicole Stoe, said the PIT count went smoothly at Micah’s Mission. Performing the count requires coordination between agencies and community partners.

“Quite a few individuals had already taken the survey with other agencies prior to coming into CU, which is good, because it means these other agencies were out there and able to provide them with resources before they even got to us,” she said.

As for the value the PIT count provides, along with providing a snapshot of homelessness in the Fargo-Moorhead area, it helps area organizations be able to better strategize and allocate resources for those experiencing homelessness.

“This count helps CU as well as other community partners in getting a snapshot of what the number of individuals who are unhoused in the F-M area looks like on any given night,” Stoe said. “Then we can provide them with the resources they are needing and/or connect them to the appropriate services.”

While speaking with community members, blankets, hand warmers, socks and other items were distributed as needed.

You can learn more about the PIT count here.