Homeless Point-In-Time Count

What is the Homeless Point-In-Time Count?

The point-in-time count occurs every year and is a census of all homeless persons in Chesapeake. Cities in Hampton Roads and nationwide will be participating in similar counts this year and reporting the data to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Since 2003, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has required applicants for federal homeless assistance grants to report the number of people who are homeless in their communities at a particular time. HUD currently requires that communities conduct a point-in-time count during the last week of January. Collecting reliable baseline data is essential to understanding the causes of homelessness and designing effective interventions to help homeless people rebuild their lives.

Why is it important?

The homeless count and survey will help identify who is homeless in Chesapeake and provide us with a baseline number of homeless individuals. The data collected will be useful on many levels:

• It will give Chesapeake leverage when applying for federal or private aid to maintain and/or improve service delivery to the homeless population.
• The count can be used to measure progress towards ending chronic homelessness.
• It will increase public awareness of the homeless population in Chesapeake.
• It will allow agencies to improve their ability to plan and implement effective services for homeless persons.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will this information be used to help homeless children and adults?
The more we know about our homeless population, the better we can serve their needs. This Point-in-Time Count is not only a chance to learn how many people are homeless and where they are located, but also information about how they became homeless and what services they need to help them.

What can I expect on the day of the count?
Depending on where you are counting, the local coordinator will probably have a central meeting place where volunteers can review their duties and responsibilities prior to going out to conduct the count. From there volunteers will go out in teams with an experienced leader into designated "target areas" to count and survey the homeless living in that area.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions or would like to volunteer?
If you have any additional questions about the count or would like to volunteer, contact the Customer Contact Center at 757-382-2489(CITY).

Who is organizing the count?
The Counts are organized by the Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition and the City of Chesapeake's Division of Community Programs.