Churches United to participate in point-in-time count

Annual HUD-mandated count gives snapshot of homelessness across the country

Have you ever wondered how we are able to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness in Fargo-Moorhead and across the country? We’re able to thanks to the annual point-in-time count.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-mandated count has volunteers counting and interviewing people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. The count is not meant to give a complete picture of homelessness; rather, it’s a snapshot of a moment in time. Although just a snapshot, that data is extremely valuable to organizations like Churches United.

Churches United case managers, advocates and chief of staff will participate in the annual Point in Time and Housing Inventory Count on Jan. 28 and count into the night and through the morning of Jan. 29. Those eight staff members will be speaking to people at Micah’s Mission, Churches United’s community center/emergency shelter.

The counts help HUD evaluate community need versus capacity, track trends in homelessness and inform funding decisions and Continuum of Care planning.

The state of Minnesota uses the count to help prevent homelessness and shape policy.