Local representatives were recently informed that the date of the Point-in-Time (PIT) count, a method of recording a community’s homeless population, has been shifted and will now be held Wednesday, January 29.
This nationwide effort is conducted annually to help identify community members who are facing homelessness and housing insecurity. The data collected helps reflect the current needs of the county and can have an influence on future funding.
Individuals and organization representatives interested in volunteering and assisting with efforts are asked to attend a PIT Count Planning meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. CT Friday, January 17 at the Starke County Health Department, located at 108 North Pearl Street in Knox.
If you cannot attend in person, a virtual option is available upon request by emailing starke@nicf.org.
More specific details about plans for the Starke County PIT Count on Wednesday, January 29 will be released following the PIT Count Planning meeting.
PIT Count volunteers will be asked to provide surveys to homeless community members, seeking general information to ensure they’re included in official Starke County statistics submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to HUD Exchange, literal homelessness is defined as someone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes people whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not meant for human habitation, individuals exiting an institution where they’ve resided for 90 days or less who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution, and those living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements. Congregate shelters, transitional housing, as well as hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations, churches, or federal, state, and local government programs are included in those institutions.
Participating PIT Count volunteers are also asked to register for the PIT Count Volunteer webinar scheduled for 1 p.m. CT Tuesday, January 21. Register for that virtual event through the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2025PITVolunteerWebinar
