On January 23, 2025, the Hays County Homeless Coalition, in collaboration with Texas Homeless Network (THN) and local agencies, will conduct the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a key initiative aimed at assessing homelessness in the region.
The PIT Count, a nationwide effort required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), serves to collect data on homelessness across communities in a single night each January. This one-day census provides crucial information that helps shape future programs and resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.
"Understanding the scope of homelessness in our community is essential to developing effective solutions," said Peyton Wagner, Hays County behavioral health coordinator and chair of the PIT planning team. "The PIT Count allows us to identify trends, allocate resources more effectively, and engage the community in addressing this pressing issue."
Volunteers will assist in surveying and providing support to homeless individuals throughout the county. The collected data will be submitted to THN, analyzed, and reported to HUD to inform national homelessness trends and local policy.
Nancy Heintz, a member of the Hays County Homeless Coalition Board of Directors, expressed gratitude to the volunteers and partners involved: "Together, we can create a clearer snapshot of homelessness and work collaboratively to implement solutions that ensure everyone has a safe place to call home."
Community members interested in getting involved can contact volunteer coordinator Tyler Staton at tyler.staton@hayscountytx.gov or PIT committee chair Peyton Wagner at peyton.wagner@hayscountytx.gov.
