2023 Point In Time Count

The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a survey of the unhoused population in Austin and Travis County that happens every other year at the end of January. This year, the Count will happen starting the night of January 27, 2023. Hundreds of volunteers load up with care packages and head out early in the morning to find as many people experiencing unsheltered homelessness as possible. Point in Time Counts matter most because they are the primary way the federal government tracks the overall number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. Plus, they’re a great way for you to get involved in our community’s efforts toward our shared national goal of ending homelessness!

Watch KXAN’s story about the 2020 PIT Count:

General Volunteer

This role is available for anyone over the age of 18. Prior to the night of the count, General Volunteers are expected to complete a required training (either in-person or online). On the night of the count, General Volunteers will work on a team of no less than 3 people to canvas the assigned area. General Volunteers will talk with unhoused people to conduct a survey that helps our community better understand the scope of unsheltered homelessness.  Click here to view full General Volunteer role description (PDF).

Time Commitment:

• Approximately 2 hours to complete the mandatory training prior to the count (available online whenever and in-person in the weeks before the count)
• Approximately 5 hours on the night of the count which includes meeting up with your Team Lead, canvasing your area, and debriefing with your Team Lead once your shift is complete

Responsibilities:

• Respond to communications from your Team Lead.
• Complete the mandatory PIT Count General Volunteer training prior to the count
• Conduct surveys will all individuals found sleeping unsheltered during the count
• General Volunteers should expect to walk a few miles during the count

Team Lead

This role is available to individuals who were previously a PIT Count Team Lead, and individuals who have participated in the PIT Count as a General Volunteer and are interested in taking on a larger role. Team Leads are responsible for managing a team of 15-20 General Volunteers. Leading up to the count, Team Leads are expected to communicate relevant information to their team members as well as surveying their assigned section to become familiar with the area and where people may be staying. On the night of the count, Team Leads will oversee their team, and they are responsible for staying in communication with Headquarters.  Click here to view full Team Lead role description (PDF).

Time Commitment:

• Approximately 5-10 hours per month from December through January including communication with your team and scouting your assigned section
• Approximately 5 hours the night of the count which includes meeting up with the General Volunteers on your team, canvasing your area, debriefing with your team after counting, and checking in with Headquarters

Responsibilities:

• Recruit as many of your friends colleagues, and family members as you can to participate in the PIT Count
• Complete General Volunteer training prior to the count
• Serve as the point of contact for your team of General Volunteers, answering questions and relaying information from the PIT Count organizers
• Meet with your team prior to the count to built rapport and strategize
• Gain familiarity with your assigned section
  • This is one of the most important duties of Team Leads. Expect to spend time in the months leading up to the count scouting your area. Introduce yourself to people experiencing homelessness and try to identify likely areas to find people during the count.
• On the night of the count, guide your team around your assigned section. Team Leads will complete surveys in addition to managing their team.
• Team Leads should expect to walk a few miles during the count.

Everyone who volunteers for the 2023 PIT Count is required to complete the General Volunteer training. All first time PIT Count volunteers are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to attend an in-person training. General Volunteer training can be completed in-person or online.

CLICK HERE to see what training times are coming up, and to register for an upcoming training!

The map for the 2023 PIT Count has not yet been finalized. We will also update this page with information about requesting specific sections/shifts for volunteers.

Volunteers will hand out care packs the night of the count, filled with warm hats, socks, snacks, hygiene items, and more. We’re hosting a care pack-making party at our office on Saturday, January 21, to get the kits ready to go. This is all-ages event open to anyone interested in making a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness in our community.

When: January 21, 2023, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 210 Barton Springs Road, Ste. 400

Refreshments will be provided. While we encourage participants to bring items with them to pack into kits, it’s not required. See our Amazon wish list for ideas of what to bring!

We need community groups to help us collect donations for care packages volunteers hand out to unhoused folks we meet during the count! These care packages typically include items like hygiene supplies (toothbrushes, toothpastes, soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products), small non-perishable snacks, and socks. Socks tend to be especially popular.

See the 2023 Point in Time Count branding guide for logos, suggested language, graphic templates, and more to help promote your event!

We’re making it easy to donate the kinds of things people living outside need. Visit our Amazon list to buy and ship items right to our office. We’ll package them up into care kits and hand them out the night of the count!

Every dollar donated through this form goes toward supplies for people experiencing homelessness. Check out our Amazon wish list to see the kinds of items we’ll be purchasing with these funds.