Point-in-Time (PIT) Count 2023

WHEN IS THE 2023 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT?

2023 PIT Count Project Report

The 2023 PIT Count will be conducted over three days in January. There are morning and afternoon shifts available.

  • Tuesday, January 24
  • Wednesday, January 25
  • Saturday, January 28

VOLUNTEER FOR THE 2023 PIT COUNT

Volunteers are needed to help with PIT Count activities. Over three days, volunteers will go to designated locations throughout the Marion-Polk region to conduct face-to-face interviews with people experiencing homelessness and hand out provided supplies to those in need.

Surveys of people sleeping outside on the street, in tents, cars, or abandoned buildings are conducted using a free mobile app.

If you missed our volunteer training, you can watch this training video.

Here are a few other resources for volunteers:

To volunteer for the PIT Count, click on the links below to register. Registration is required for participation. 

Volunteer in Marion County
Volunteer in Salem

PIT COUNT DONATIONS

Requested donations of NEW items for men and women include:
(Due to the Coronavirus, all items must be new)

  • Gloves
  • Wool Socks
  • Blankets-Mylar and Regular
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Body Wipes
  • Tampons/Sanitary Pads
  • Protein Bars and Drinks
  • Backpacks
  • Phone Batteries/Chargers
  • Lanterns/Flashlights
  • Water Bottles
  • Dog Treats/Waste Bags
  • Tents
  • Tarps

Drop-off location: 455 Bliler Ave. NE Salem 97301

Drop-off times:

Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

December 12, 2022, through January 26, 2023

Donate Cash Now

WHAT IS THE POINT-IN-TIME COUNT?

The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is an annual, nationwide event that happens in the last week of January. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development asks communities to individually count their homeless populations to identify how many individuals and households are homeless in the community, and to determine some of their key characteristics.

Who is Counted?

Sheltered CountPeople staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing
Unsheltered CountPeople staying in cars, encampments, building doorways, under blankets on heating grates, or other places that aren’t intended for shelter.

The PIT Count is a collaborative effort of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance, homeless service providers, and volunteers in every community in Marion and Polk counties.

The annual PIT Count helps measure our successes and further understand our challenges from one year to the next.

HOW IS THE PIT COUNT CONDUCTED?

The Marion-Polk PIT Count will consist of mobile volunteer outreach teams and stationary sites throughout the two counties.

For additional information about best practices in conducting the PIT Count, see these resources:

The Counting Us mobile app is used to conduct the PIT Count. The app is free and can be downloaded to mobile devices. Instead of relying on paper forms, volunteers simply download the app, register an account, and complete a short survey each time they interact with a person or family experiencing homelessness.

How does Counting Us work?

  • Built-in surveys enable volunteers to collect key information needed for the region to comply with the federal reporting requirements of conducting an accurate Point-in-Time Count.
  • The app uses the device’s built in GPS to tag the exact location of each survey.
  • The Counting Us app has the unique ability to detect if a user has Internet connectivity. If offline, the survey data can be saved on the device and submitted later.
  • The app runs on phones and tablets of all sizes and with various operating systems.
  • Direct integration with the Point in Time Regional Command Center allows count administrators to provide oversight throughout the census. This helps ensure all areas are properly canvassed and the data is being collected accurately.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

Lisa Trauernicht
Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance
lisamostlyconsulting@gmail.com