The purpose of the PIT Count is to have a snap shot of how many people are experiencing homelessness on Long Island at any given time and assess the needs of people living unsheltered or in emergency shelter. This report can be used to show general changes in total homeless numbers year over year, can identify trends within who is experiencing homelessness, why people are experiencing homelessness, and for how long. Demographic data allows for further local efforts to reduce any disparities within the homeless response system.
You can volunteer for the PIT Count in the following ways:
- Register as a Volunteer Canvassing Group or Individual to go out to an assigned community and survey people on the street on January 27, 2025
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/srwvjn3
- Register as a Host Site if you work at a location where people known to be living on the street go during the day and complete surveys with those guests/program participants during the week of January 27- January 31, 2025
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/5jezdmu
- Coordinate a drive with winter items for survival kits that will be distributed to people living on the street that are surveyed during the PIT Count
- Donate gift cards in $10 increments for youth that are surveyed during the PIT Count (Amazon, Fast Food Restaurants, Coffee Shops, or Convenience Stores)
Local Trends in Homelessness
The PIT Count report is submitted to Congress to determine federal approaches and HUD funding allocations to better address homelessness within communities. PIT reports also inform local decision-makers and advocates on whether we are making progress in reducing overall homelessness, and homelessness amongst families, single adults, youth, people living unsheltered, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and Veterans.
How to interpret PIT count reports:
PIT count reports are representative of total persons homeless in Nassau County and Suffolk County. County-level data must be requested of the CoC or HMIS team.
Data is sorted into three household types- households with adults and children, households with only adults, and households with only children (unaccompanied minors).
Within each household type, data is broken down by demographics including age, race and ethnicity.
Sub-reports are available on the number of Veterans and Youth experiencing homelessness.
A special populations report represents the number of adults with disabilities and survivors of domestic violence that are experiencing homelessness.
The majority of households experiencing homelessness on LI are adults only households- mostly single adults, but including multi-adult households such as adult couples or families with adult children.
For help interpreting or reporting on PIT data please contact CoC@addressthehomeless.org.