The Point-in-Time Count is a statewide, collective effort to understand the impact of homelessness on communities
In a concerted effort to understand and address homelessness in Grand County, the annual Point-in-Time Count (PIT) is set to take place from January 25 to 27, 2024.
Each year, volunteers across the state aim to count all individuals experiencing homelessness on a specific night — this year it is Wednesday, January 24 — offering crucial insights into how many people in local communities are suffering from being without stable housing.
The PIT count spans three days, but the survey specifically targets individuals who were homeless on the designated night.
Locally the effort is spearheaded by the nonprofits Moab Solutions and the Moab Valley Multicultural Center. To encourage participation, eligible individuals will receive a $10 incentive for taking the survey.
Particularly in communities like Moab, many people who don’t have stable housing can be invisible.
Some are living in situations considered not fit, like a vehicle or a garage.
Some would be considered ‘sheltered homeless’: perhaps on the night in question, they were staying with family members or in a temporary hotel room.
Residents and agencies are urged to spread awareness about the count and refer eligible participants like these to be counted.
The results of the survey are crucial to understanding just how many local residents are in vulnerable living situations. It also can determine how much state funding to alleviate housing issues and provide services for the unhoused our local community receives.
In 2022, the results of the survey indicated a minimum of 40 people were identified as without acceptable shelter, with a gain in the number of people who were experiencing homelessness for the first time over previous years, according to the 2023 Annual Data Report on Homelessness, a summary of PIT data produced by the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
Even more worrying, last year’s data also showed that every single available emergency shelter bed was being used during the count.
For any inquiries or additional information about the count, contact Moab Solutions staff member Win Bludford at 435-401-4685.
