Virginia Beach Housing & Neighborhood Preservation is seeking volunteers to assist with its annual count of the homeless population, known as the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, from 3:30-7 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Volunteers will join a team of staff and other volunteers who will be assigned to canvass a specified area, find people who are living unsheltered, administer a survey and distribute resources.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires cities that receive federal funding for homeless programs to conduct the PIT Count. The count provides a snapshot of how many individuals were sheltered and unsheltered during one day in January and helps determine how much funding a community will receive for homeless programs and services. Each year, approximately $2 million is granted through the Continuum of Care to Virginia Beach agencies that provide housing and supportive services to the homeless. Demographic information and other data collected during the PIT Count are also important to understanding the scope of homelessness, revealing trends and identifying opportunities to better address the needs of the population.
PIT volunteers must be 18 years old and attend mandatory training. To volunteer, register online by Jan. 1, 2024, at virginiabeach.gov/pitcount .