Local Volunteers Needed for Point in Time Count
The annual Point in Time (PIT) Count in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties urgently need volunteers to help. The PIT count is a federal requirement by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) across the country, and Community Services Consortium (CSC) coordinates this volunteer effort across the three counties it serves.
“It is like a census of the homeless population, and it’s the only federally recognized number,” said Scott McKee who coordinates the count for CSC.
Making sure the count is as accurate as it can be is essential. The more volunteers to assist with outreach, the more accurate the count.
“We need them to know the accurate numbers so we can get our fair share of resources to address the issues,” McKee said noting that it’s not just a matter of federal dollars. “When our governor, Tina Kotek, took office one of the first things she did was three emergency declarations, all of them surrounding homelessness, and the only meter she was willing to use to decide who got access to that funding—tens of millions of dollars—was the Point in Time count data.”
Every year, getting an accurate count in rural areas presents unique challenges. Unlike the packed environment and anonymity of urban cities, in rural areas homelessness is easily visible. Unhoused individuals find ways to hide to avoid safety risks, disturbing the community who may want them removed, or being tokenized.
“Conducting a head count of those experiencing homelessness, particularly those who are not in shelter, is an overwhelming task,” said Dina Eldridge, Housing Services Manager at CSC. “Homelessness is isolating and scary, and many people who are forced to sleep in their car or pitch a tent in the woods, do not want people to find them.”
“So, we do our best to get a snapshot of the problem with the understanding that the true number is undoubtedly larger, but unknown,” Eldridge further explained. “The amount of support we get from volunteers and donations makes a monumental difference in the count, and all the ripple effects from it in our region.”
Oregon’s housing crisis impacts all of us. More of our community members are experiencing homelessness than ever before. The PIT count is just one way to help get more resources to the people that need them and make our communities safer and healthier for all.
The count will be conducted January 22nd through the end of the month, with a variety of volunteer shift times and days available. New volunteers are paired with experienced people and use the app CountingUs to conduct the survey.
Unable to volunteer but still want to support the PIT count? Donations support volunteer work, provide gift cards for essential resources, meals, and more for our unhoused neighbors. Donate today at givebutter.com/csc-pit or text “PIT” to 53-555.
To learn more about volunteering for the PIT count, email pitcount@communityservices.us or call 541-758-2604.
