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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Washington State Department of Commerce require communities to conduct a one-day Point-In-Time (PIT) Count to survey individuals experiencing homelessness. PIT Counts are one source of data among many that help us understand the magnitude and characteristics of people who are homeless in our community and in the United States.
The Point-In-Time (PIT) Count is a one day snapshot that captures the characteristics and situations of people living here without a home. The PIT Count includes both sheltered individuals (emergency shelters or transitional housing) and unsheltered individuals (those sleeping outside or living in places that are not meant for human habitation).
The annual PIT Count happens at the end of January, and is carried out by volunteers who interview people using a standard survey form that asks people where they slept the night before, where their last residence was located, what may have contributed to their loss of housing, and what disabilities the individual may have. It also asks how long the individual has been homeless, age, and demographics, and whether the person is a veteran and/or a survivor of domestic violence.
Like all surveys, the PIT Count has limitations. Results from the Count are influenced by the weather, by availability of overflow shelter beds, by the nature of the volunteers, and by the level of engagement of the people we are interviewing. Comparisons from year to year should be done with loose limitation in mind.
"The Point-In-Time Count provides the homeless assistance community with the data needed to understand the number and characteristics of persons who are homeless at one point in time."
-U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
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Survey Volunteers will survey homeless individuals during the day of the count. We want to survey every person who slept in any area not ordinarily used as a place for human habitation including sidewalks, parks, wooded areas, transit stations, commercial establishments, alleyways, vehicles, and encampments.
Team Leaders carry out all duties listed for Survey Volunteer, but also take on additional responsibilities regarding the safety and coordination of a team of volunteers
Team Guides are people who have lived the experience of homelessness in the recent past or are currently living homeless. Their unique perspective, knowledge, experience, and connections make them valuable assets to the surveying team.
Meal Site & Food Bank Survey Volunteer
Volunteers will survey people at food banks and meal sites during specified shifts throughout the whole week, not just on the 24th.
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Info collected from Kitsap County's Point-in-Time Page
2020 Point-In-Time Count
2020 Kitsap County Point-in-Time Count Overview - Preliminary
2019 Point-In-Time Count
2019 Kitsap County Point-in-Time Count Overview - Certified
2019 Kitsap County Point-in-Time Count - Jail Survey
2018 Point-In-Time Count
2018 Kitsap County Point-in-Time Count Overview - Certified
2018 Kitsap County Point-in-Time Count - Jail Survey
2017 Point-In-Time Count
2017 Kitsap County Point-in-Time Count Overview - Certified
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Point-in-Time Survey Form with Local Questions - Coming Soon (once approved and sent to us by the Washington State Department of Commerce)
2022 Kitsap PIT Survey with Local Questions
2022 Kitsap County PIT Instructions for Surveyors
2022 Kitsap PIT Volunteer Recruitment Flyer
2022 Volunteer Release and Confidentiality
Kitsap Client Release of Information and Informed Consent Form
Coordinating the Point-in-Time count is a new challenge for Northwest Hospitality’s team, but one that we’re very excited to take on. The biggest way that you can help Northwest Hospitality and, more importantly, our unhoused neighbors is to sign up to volunteer with us during the week of Feb. 22nd and especially for the survey and outreach event on the morning of Thursday, February 24th.
Training Tools
2022 Kitsap County PIT Instructions for Surveyors
Please try to attend a live training session
If that’s not possible, the following video will walk you through the essentials
Thank you for Volunteering!
Contacts
Anton Preisinger
Executive Director, 2022 Kitsap PIT Coordinator
Northwest Hospitality
888-222-5240 x6 or info@nwhospitality.org
Kirsten Jewell, Division Manager
360-337-7286 or kjewell@co.kitsap.wa.us
Cory Derenburger, Division Specialist
360-362-0404 or cderenbu@co.kitsap.wa.us
Doug Washburn
Director Department of Human Services
dwashbur@co.kitsap.wa.us