The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a survey of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, with every community in the US counting on the same night. This year’s PIT Count night is January 25, 2024. The count helps to determine trends in homelessness over time in Whatcom County, and provides valuable information to agencies and organizations that support homeless individuals or those who are at risk of homelessness.
The count includes both sheltered and unsheltered individuals, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This survey includes individuals who are unsheltered (sleeping in cars, encampments, and other places not meant for human habitation), as well as those staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing units on the night of the count.
- On the night of January 25: People staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs will be surveyed at those locations.
- On the morning of January 26: Service providers and outreach teams will begin surveying people who were unsheltered the night of January 25. These surveys will be conducted until February 1st, 2024.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services is responsible for ensuring the data collection and reporting of the PIT Count for Whatcom County, and provides support and guidance for the local programs that conduct the survey. Data will be collected and confirmed, and a report will be published later this year.
“The PIT data provide important information about the evolving nature of homelessness in Whatcom County,” said Chris D’Onofrio, Housing and Homeless Services Supervisor with WCHCS. “We recognize that it’s an incomplete assessment, but the year-to-year changes help guide our focus so we can respond to current conditions. And knowing more about who is experiencing homelessness, and some of the factors that are impacting their housing stability, gives us a better sense of what we can do to provide the right support.”
Organizations participating in the count include Opportunity Council's Homeless Outreach Team, Bridge2Services, Lummi Outreach, Nooksack Tribe, WCHCS Response Systems Division, and numerous other programs that offer emergency shelter and transitional housing to people who are homeless on the night of the count. Many other community organizations that interact with homeless individuals are also involved in this survey.
The survey is a snapshot taken on a single night and doesn’t include people who cycle in and out of homelessness and who happen to be housed on the night of the PIT Count. Participation is voluntary, and some people chose not to participate in the survey.
Additional Point in Time Count Resources:
