From staff reports
The challenge of homelessness is on the rise, not only in Beaufort County, but throughout the nation. To effectively address homelessness, obtaining actionable data is crucial for Beaufort County and the federal government to accurately assessing the level of need.
To collect that date, Beaufort County will again participate in a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. This year’s Pit Count is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The PIT Count is a nationwide event that occurs every year to capture a count of the number of people experiencing homelessness in our nation on a single night in January. The PIT Count is important because it allows for crucial data that is needed for The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate federal funding for programs aimed at preventing and ending homelessness.
Communities seeking federal assistance must participate in annual PIT counts to be eligible. Each county in our state is responsible for conducting its PIT Count coordinated by a county representative.
The PIT count is meticulously planned, coordinated, and executed at the local level in collaboration with the Lowcountry Continuum of Care (LCOC). Ana Ramirez, the Program Coordinator for the Beaufort County Human Services Department, and the PIT Count Coordinator for Beaufort County, collaborates with the LCOC and agency partners within the Beaufort County Human Services Alliance to make sure Beaufort County acquires the most accurate count possible.
“Previously, the total count within our Continuum of Care area, which includes Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, and Beaufort counties, was 17,” Ramirez said. “Last year, through the hard work of our Together for Beaufort County agency partners and volunteers, we had a count of 65 with (more than) 120 witnessed individuals experiencing homelessness in Beaufort County alone. The coordination of our partners has made all the difference in conducting the count for the benefit of our county.”
This year, according to Ramirez, the same organizations have joined up again to conduct the count and continue to collect data that helps organizations be able to tap into potential federal funding through HUD.
“The data is shareable and supports our collective efforts to address this issue head on,” Ramirez said.
The count will be held the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 24.
“The date is decided by HUD … We do not get to decide the date,” Ramirez said.”
That evening, volunteers will be conducting surveys with individuals experiencing homelessness.
“We will also be offering the individuals bags of gratitude that contain various items we take for granted,” Ramirez said. “… flashlights, hand warmers, emergency blankets, toiletries, socks, hats and scarfs, toothbrushes and tooth paste, reusable water bottles, ponchos, and other items.”
Volunteers are still needed for the count. Mandatory virtual training will be provided on January 22. In-person volunteering hours day of the count will be between 3 p.m. and midnight.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Ana Ramirez at ana.ramirez@bcgov.net. Or to make a donation to the organizations who organize, conduct the count and collect data, visit https://bit.ly/3Slwrdy.
