Volunteers needed for ‘point-in-time count’ Jan. 22-23
Published on January 07, 2025
Multiple organizations and volunteers will be conducting Laramie County’s Point In Time (PIT) Count from the evening of Jan. 22 through Jan. 23, and volunteers are needed to contribute to the effort. A variety of roles and positions are available.
The Point In Time Count is an unduplicated count of the unhoused population on a single night in January (Jan. 22 for Wyoming). The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines literal homelessness as living in a place not meant for human habitation, emergency shelter, or some transitional housing programs. People at risk of becoming homeless (such as those staying with friends or family or staying in a motel) are not included in this count.
With volunteer support, PIT organizers oversee the count and survey and ensure each count is compliant with HUD guidelines. Everyone surveyed will receive a hot lunch provided by the Salvation Army as well as information about other community resources and an outreach bag filled with warm gear, food/snacks and hygiene products at no cost to them.
The committee is seeking volunteers to help count the unhoused population in Laramie County, distribute marketing materials for the event, donate supplies for outreach bags, and more. Those interested in volunteering should contact Julie Sanchez with Recover Wyoming at 307-421-7261.
While helping to determine the scope of homelessness, the PIT raises public awareness, promotes collaboration across the region, provides needed demographic and survey data, and helps efforts to apply for increased housing funds as a community.
The point in time count plays an important role in HUD funding, with certain types of grants awarded based on the results of the count. The count also helps identify gaps in services and its data can be used to develop policy and planning decisions at the state level.
The City of Cheyenne is a beneficiary of some grants awarded by point-in-time data and is a partner in the PIT Count.
A Facebook event has also been created for the effort by Wyoming 2-1-1.