The Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is looking for volunteers to help count and survey Philadelphians who are experiencing homelessness and living outdoors.
The city’s overnight Point In Time (PIT) Count — slated for Jan. 22 — is federally mandated across the country, and the data informs how the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development distributes funding.
“The PIT Count takes place in communities across the country — not just Philadelphia,” explains OHS Executive Director Cheryl Hill. “This helps HUD identify homelessness trends, gaps, and needs throughout local communities and the nation, as well as determine which approaches to ending and preventing homelessness work best.”
During the Philadelphia PIT Count later this month, teams of volunteers will canvass the city according to their assigned zones to survey the people they encounter. In addition to documenting who is living and sleeping outdoors, the PIT Count informs city, state, and federal government where people are staying, for how long, and what barriers are preventing them from coming in off the street.
“The data tell us more about who exactly is experiencing homelessness. For example, we gather demographics such as race, gender, disability status, veteran status, and age, as well as why and what they feel they need, based on their responses,” said Beth Gonzales, OHS Deputy of Policy, Planning, and Performance
Gonzales explains training sessions will contribute to a successful PIT Count. Virtual training sessions for volunteers will begin in early January.
“We provide training, so volunteers are prepared to execute their roles, get to know their teams, and review the zones,” said Gonzales. “Counters, for instance, receive training about the survey-taking process, including how to ask the people they encounter on the street to voluntarily participate in a short survey, and how to record the responses in the PIT data portal OHS created and debuted at the 2024 PIT Count.”
The 2025 PIT Count will begin on Jan. 22, at 10 p.m., with a special kick-off event inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The event will feature a DJ, light bites, beverages, inspiring speakers, and volunteer check-in, where volunteers will meet up with their teams before heading out to their assigned zones in the city.
Anyone who would like to participate in the 2025 PIT Count may sign up to volunteer at https://bit.ly/2025_PITCount by Jan. 6.
