Volunteers Needed to Count Area Homeless

Each year, the Prince William Area Continuum of Care holds the Point In Time, or PIT, count, which counts persons experiencing homelessness on a single night each year in January. 

This year the PIT count, which is a requirement for regional Continuums of Care for Homeless Services receiving federal funding from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), will be conducted throughout the 24-hour-period of Jan. 24, ending Jan. 25, 2024, with multiple shifts throughout the day and night. HUD requires that the PIT count be completed nationally the third week of January.

Volunteers are needed to spread out across the county to complete the “unsheltered” portion of the count, which involves visiting places where persons experiencing homelessness are sleeping in a “place not meant for human habitation” (such as their vehicle, an abandoned building, or anywhere outside). Volunteers will be placed in teams, led by an experienced team lead, and will complete surveys with participants at pre-identified locations.

The data collected will determine funding decisions, identify service gaps and raise public awareness about homelessness.

People who wish to volunteer should visit bit.ly/2024-PWA-PIT to learn about volunteer requirements and responsibilities and to register for the PIT count. After completing the registration, perspective volunteers will be prompted to provide additional information and to choose a shift to help out. Registration to volunteer closes on Dec. 5, 2023, at 11:30 p.m.

Email questions to the Prince William County Department of Social Services Homeless Services Team at [email protected].

The Prince William Area Continuum of Care (PWA CoC) is the lead organization in completing the work to prevent and end homelessness in the Prince William area. The county’s Department of Social Services is the lead for the PWA CoC, which includes the areas of Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

More information about PWA CoC and the PIT is available at pwcva.gov/department/social-services/about-continuum-care.