Point in Time Survey

Helping to Estimate Homelessness in Our Community

The Point in Time (PIT) survey happens during a single 24-hour period and captures a snapshot of who is homeless on one given night. Results help show trends over the course of a year.

What The Count Measures

• Total number of people experiencing homelessness during the 24-hour period
• Demographic details, such as gender and race
• Primary causes of homelessness
• Where people are sleeping (for example, shelters or outdoors)
• Subpopulations, such as veterans and people affected by domestic violence

When The Count Happens

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to complete a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count every two years to stay eligible for federal homeless assistance grants. Locally, this count is conducted every year to better understand needs in the community. Communities complete the survey during a 24-hour period in the last 10 days of January. In North Carolina, the state coordinates one shared 24-hour window so people are not counted more than once across different areas. Pitt County has taken part in the annual PIT Count since 2008 through partnerships among staff and volunteers.