Point in Time (PIT) Count

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.

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.

Families with children in shelter had been decreasing year over year but has drastically increased since COVID-19, most among mothers with children that identify as Black. Poverty/economic hardships, discrimination and domestic violence are some leading causes of family homelessness.

Single adult homelessness has continued to increase, mostly among aging adults that are males identifying as White, persons with disabilities, and single adults exiting jails and prisons without housing.

Veteran homelessness has been drastically reduced on LI and remains at less than 3% of the overall homeless population locally.

Youth experiencing homelessness on the street or in shelter is very low within LI, although youth that do experience homelessness are often highly vulnerable and often have been in foster care or are part of the LGBT community.

HUD Published Annual Homeless Report to Congress

View the national report here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

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.

Point in TIME (PIT) HOMELESS Count

Reports

Newly Released 2024 PIT Report