Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Counts

Information on the 2023  Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Sheltered and Unsheltered Count Process is forthcoming.

HUD has upcoming office hours related to the 2023 Point-in-Time Count, which will also be recorded for review. Thursday, October 27 from 3:00-4:00pm ET.  Registration Details: Date: October 27, 2022 – 3:00-4:00pm ET Register in advance or join at the time of the event here.

See below for the 2022 PIT process that took place in January of 2022 by Coordinators and volunteers across Colorado's 54 more rural counties. 

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In 2022 we conducted a Sheltered Count across the state while taking in to consideration safety due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. See below for more information.

More information on the Point-in-Time Count can be obtained via the HUD PIT Methodology Guide. Definitions of the types of Point-in-Time Counts are included below. Click to expand the "PIT Training Content,  Materials,  and  FAQ's" dropdown below this menu to access BoS Point-in-Time Materials for the BoS 2022 Sheltered Count.

Sheltered Count Process (Covid-19 has not impacted the Sheltered Count, it will take place as usual.)

During the Sheltered Count, the Balance of State PIT Coordinators, Agencies, and Volunteers Surveyed: “An individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangement (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income individuals).”

Surveys were completed in person or via the agencies Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as long as the agency collects the HUD required data on the night of the count. We worked with HMIS leads to develop a trusted method for running PIT reports.

During the Sheltered Count the Balance of State agencies also Count the number of individuals who live in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH). We did not collect demographic information in the PSH and RRH count. This count was reported to HUD, but is not used in either HUD or BoS CoC reports.

Unsheltered Count Process (Covid-19 HAS impacted the Unsheltered Count, see below for more information.)

During an Unsheltered Count year, Balance of State PIT Coordinators, Agencies, and Volunteers Survey individuals and families experiencing homelessness per HUD's Homeless Definition Final Rule: “An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground.”

While some counties and regions may be conducting an unsheltered count in 2022, the BoS CoC is only conducting and reporting on a sheltered count.

PIT/HIC Consultant

The Colorado Balance of State Continuum of Care contracts with the OMNI Institute in Denver, CO to provide Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Count consulting services, data de-duplication and analysis, and the PIT Count Reports.

Click here if you'd like to email the CoC Coordinator for more information about the 2022 count, or to join the BoS Point-in-Time Work Group that is helping to plan the 2023 count!

• 2023 Point-in-Time Count 

  • We are planning for the 2023 Unsheltered Point-in-Time Count, which will be a count of both Unsheltered and Sheltered homelessness in the Balance of State Continuum of Care. If you'd like to be involved in planning the 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) and/or Housing Inventory Count (HIC), please contact Shawn Hayes, shayes@coloradocoalition.org.

• Youth Supplemental Survey Update: 

  • There will be a Youth Supplemental Survey (YSS) and Unsheltered count in 2023. In order to participate in the YSS process, contact Brittany Wade (brittany.wade@state.co.us) and Kippy Clausen (kippi@unfoldingdirections.com). 

Unsheltered Count Question (paraphrased): "Is there an approved HUD methodology for safely conducting a visual count of populations for places not meant for human habitation, like abandoned buildings, sheds, cars, etc? Can we use visuals to complete most of a survey without actually speaking to the person/family if the volunteer feels this would be a safer method the night of the count?"

Answer:

From the HUD Methodology Guide: When conducting a street count, there are situations in which it might not be possible for enumerators to interview a person in an unsheltered location. It might not be safe to approach someone in an abandoned building or someone who is sleeping. In these instances, it might be necessary to count a person and determine some of his or her characteristics based on observations. An observation tool may be used in these instances to record some characteristics that can be observed by the enumerator. For example, it may be possible to determine a person’s gender, but not his or her veteran status. Sometimes even gender is difficult to record, if for instance a sleeping person is wrapped in blankets or inside a cardboard box. When recording observations, it is important to record as much information as practicable about the physical location where the person is observed (e.g., the street name, any landmarks), as well as the person’s physical description (e.g., clothes, personal belongings) to assist with deduplication."

From CCH: The best way to participate in the Point-in-Time Count is for someone to be surveyed directly. Always survey someone directly if possible. 

When considering places not meant for human habitation, safety, volunteer comfort, etc. a region should always air on the side of safety and caution. Volunteers should be instructed to trust their instincts, stay "buddied-up" with other volunteers, and not enter structures or areas that seem unsafe even if it means not surveying someone who is experiencing homelessness. 

If a volunteer is able to conduct a visual count and feels it is the best option not to disturb the individual or family, they should have visual of the individuals or families staying in the place not meant for human habitation and be able to provide an "accurate" description of the person or families age and as much information on the survey as possible. 

We recommend writing "OBS" in the space for both the first and last name to identify the survey as an observation, along with an identifier to separate the observation surveys. For example: "OBS1", "OBS2", etc.

Using observation data should be a last resort because it may lead to less accurate data. Information like a person's veteran status or disability, and even their gender/race can not always be gleaned from observation. Additionally, using observation data can increase the probability of a duplication in the count if the person or family complete a survey later that night or following and do not realize they've already been counted.

Question: 

Additional Questions? Email Shawn here: shayes@coloradocoalition.org

The BoS Housing Inventory Count (HIC)

The HIC is an inventory of projects within your CoC that provide beds and units dedicated to serving persons who are homeless. It is intended to provide HUD and CoCs with information about the shelter and housing capacity of homeless crisis response systems. It should reflect the number of beds and units available on the night designated for the count that are dedicated to serve persons who are homeless (and, for permanent housing projects, persons who were homeless at entry), per the HUD homeless definition. 

You may access past years HIC reports via the Hudexchange website by clicking HERE, searching for the Colorado Balance of State CoC report along with the year of interest. 

Important: The Housing Inventory Count includes all shelters and housing programs, not just those that receive HUD funding. By being included in the count and also participating in the Point-in-Time Count, you can help bring additional resources to your community. If you have a shelter or housing program that you would like to be included in the Balance of State's Housing Inventory Count, please contact us HERE.