Jan 23-26: Homeless Point-In-Time Count Begins
The Big Picture:
Every day, families, adults, young people, and children are sleeping in cars, on couches, and on the streets in Okanogan County, calling to action our schools, hospitals, social workers, elected leaders, law enforcement, first responders, and others . Once a year, the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count brings an opportunity to better understand this community crisis and set the foundation for more homelessness investment, resources, and coordination, but to be successful, the PIT needs participation from community partners in every corner of Okanogan County.
What is the Point-In-Time Count?
Communities are required by state and federal agencies to conduct a one-day Point-In-Time (PIT) Count that surveys people experiencing homelessness. The PIT Count includes both *sheltered individuals (temporarily living in emergency shelters or transitional housing) and unsheltered individuals (those sleeping outside or living in places that are not meant for human habitation). PIT Counts are one source of data among many that help us understand the situations and characteristics of people living in Okanogan County without a home.
Why Does it Matter?
The PIT Count helps inform priorities for federal, state, and local funding. It also helps identify trends and craft solutions for the needs of vulnerable individuals and families. Knowing approximately how many families with children, unaccompanied youth, unsheltered veterans, etc. are homeless, helps local housing providers and our City and County governments plan for homeless services and measure progress toward goals. The Count is also required by Washington State and federal laws as a condition of receiving financial assistance to fund homeless services.
In 2022, the Okanogan County PIT Count identified just 57 homeless individuals and zero unaccompanied homeless youth, a number that many community partners think substantially underrepresents the total homeless population in our county. Like all surveys, the PIT Count has limitations and factors that affect the count results in any given year (like weather and volunteer participation). But if we come together to collect better data, we can tell a critical story about homelessness in our county and position ourselves for real and lasting solutions.
How Does it Work?
Nationally, the annual PIT Count happens on January 26th and is carried out by volunteers and community partners who gather information directly from homeless individuals about their housing situation. In Okanogan County, PIT surveyors gather information for a full five days the week of January 23-27.
Okanogan County needs to reach as much of the county as possible. Right now, PIT Count organizers are calling on community partners to help with the following:
Rally more volunteers
Identify places where homeless individuals are living in sheltered and unsheltered areas (*see definition above)
Lead or work with current leads to help organize and manage volunteer groups in communities throughout the county
If an agency uses Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), help with data entry of the paper survey forms
Put the PIT Count on agendas for big meetings to explain the PIT and encourage volunteers
How to Get Involved?
For more information about the PIT Count in Okanogan County, go to www.occac.com/PIT
For general volunteer or agency participation: Miranda Maple at Okanogan County Community Action Council, 509-422-4041
In the Methow Valley: Erin or Kat at Room One, 509-997-2050
In the Oroville area: Ashley Range at the Oroville Housing Authority, 509-991-0396
For unaccompanied youth: Foundation for Youth Resiliency and Engagement (FYRE), info@okfyre.org
