Evansville To Conduct Annual Point-In-Time Count Of Homelessness oOn January 25-26

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On January 25-26, 2023 Evansville will conduct its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people experiencing homelessness in the community, including sheltered and unsheltered homeless men, women, children, and families. Mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the count provides a snapshot of the number and characteristics of people experiencing homelessness in Evansville. The Aurora Homeless Outreach Team conducts the count with support from area homeless shelters and agencies, in conjunction with the Region 12 Homeless Services Council and Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County. 

WHO – Aurora Homeless Outreach Team and other agencies, including United Caring Services, Ozanam Family Shelter, House of Bread and Peace, Evansville Rescue Mission, YWCA Evansville, Salvation Army and others. 

WHEN – The count begins Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., and concludes the morning of Thursday, January 26, 2023 

WHERE 

• Shelters: Evansville initiates a white flag, so any and all can come to the shelter for the day (it makes counting the majority easier). The shelter staff completes the survey forms for each person and enters the info into HMIS (Indiana’s homeless data tracking system). Shelters not on the HMIS system receive paper forms to complete and send to Indianapolis for entry into HMIS. 

• Street: Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team goes out on the streets with survey forms in hand, to places where it is known that homeless people congregate or stay. The outreach team completes the forms and enters the information into HMIS. 

About the Point-in-Time Count The annual point-in-time count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for communities receiving its funds for programs to aid people experiencing homelessness. The count includes sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, including emergency shelters and transitional housing, as well as locations unfit for habitation. HUD aggregates the local data each year as a snapshot of homelessness nationally. HUD utilizes PIT data in its strategic planning for future programs to address homelessness. 

About the Commission on Homelessness 

The Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County was formed in 2005 to direct and facilitate the implementation of strategic actions to prevent and end homelessness locally. The Commission includes representatives of local non-profit and civic organizations, City and County government, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, the Evansville Housing Authority, and homeless services and housing agencies, among others. Together, they provide leadership for local implementation of national programs and resources to address homelessness, including housing initiatives, coordinated entry and other community-wide homeless processes, homeless diversion and prevention programs. For more: evansvillehomeless.org/ and facebook.com/