2020 Point-in-Time and Youth Outreach and Count FAQ
A brief intro to everything you need to know about the 2020 Point-in-Time Count and Youth Outreach and Count.
What is the Point-in-Time Count?
January 21st is the annual Point-in-Time Count, the annual census of those experiencing homelessness. The “PIT” takes place throughout the country, intentionally on one of the coldest nights of the year. HUD uses PIT data to inform policy and funding decisions, which makes the quality of our data especially important.
What do PIT volunteers do?
The PIT is conducted by volunteers, so if you have an interest in connecting with homelessness in your community this is a great opportunity for you. PIT volunteers convene at a location not too far from where you live or work for a short training and hit the ground in teams of 3-5, each led by a seasoned worker from Connecticut’s homeless crisis response system. Volunteer teams are each assigned a census block to canvas together, entering data in the PIT app.
When does the PIT take place?
Here is a list of current times and locations.
| January 21 7:00-11:00 PM | January 22 5:00-7:00 AM | January 21 – 22 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM |
| Danbury Litchfield Meriden Middlesex New Haven (surrounding regions) New London Norwalk Norwich Waterbury Windham | Bristol Hartford (and suburbs) New Britain New Haven (metro area, 4:00 AM – 7:00AM) | Bridgeport Greenwich Stamford |
Is the PIT safe?
Yes. PIT volunteers hit the street in teams and are trained only to survey in areas where they feel safe.
What is the Youth Outreach and Count and how is it different from the PIT?
In 2015, we realized that the PIT was not capturing data on homeless and housing-unstable youth so our coalition decided to conduct a separate youth count. Instead of canvasing youth the night of the PIT, volunteers canvas during 2-3 hour intervals taking place during the days of January 22-28. Volunteers participate in a short web training in advance and then hit the streets in teams, scouting locations where homeless youth are known to congregate.
Who can volunteer?
Anybody! If you are interested in exploring how you, your company, congregation, or student group can participate in the Counts as a volunteer engagement opportunity please contact Ryan Beach at 860-721-7876 x107.
Volunteer today!
Registering early helps us make sure you have an organized and meaningful experience participating in the Counts. Thank you for helping us end homelessness in Connecticut!
For more information about the Point-in-Time Count, please contact:
Mike Apotsos at mapotsos@cceh.org or 860-721-7876 x114
For more information about the Youth Outreach and Count, please contact:
Carl Asikainen at casikainen@cceh.org or 860-721-7876 x106