What:
The annual Point-In-Time (PIT) homeless count is required by HUD for every community in the county and serves as a static count of the number of people experiencing homelessness. It is the principle means for gauging the need for homeless assistance resources both nationally and here in Ramsey County community. The results of the PIT directly impact the amount of funding dedicated to serving people experiencing homelessness in Ramsey County.
The unsheltered homeless PIT counts the number of people who are sleeping in palaces not meant for human habitation (public transportation, streets, bridges, etc.), as well as those who are doubled up and/or couch hopping/surfing (ie: temporarily staying with someone and is not on the lease).
When:
The unsheltered homeless PIT is scheduled for the night of January 23rd. This means that the count will include those who are experiencing homelessness anytime between sundown January 23rd and sunup January 24th. Unsheltered surveys may be conducted anytime between January 24th and January 31st as long as the respondents identify as experiencing homelessness the night of January 24th.
How:
To anonymously collect general demographic and income information, we conduct a brief (5-10 minute) survey/interview with each person who reports experiencing homelessness the night of January 23rd through homeless outreach teams and volunteer teams. People interested in volunteering can sign up via the survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019RamseyPIT by Monday, January 21st. Training is provided online via ICA's website at https://hmismn.org/point-in-time-count/ and/or by attending an in-person training on Friday, January 18th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm at the Rondo Library in St. Paul. For more information on the PIT Count, please contact the Continuum of Care (CoC) Coordinator, Loni Aadalen, via email at [email protected]