Evansville, IN – The Evansville Vanderburgh Commission on Homelessness announces the 2025 Region 12 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count beginning at 12:00 p.m. on January 29th until 12:00 p.m. on January 30th, as part of a nationwide effort led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This annual count identifies individuals and families experiencing homelessness across Evansville and the surrounding counties, providing vital data to guide resource allocation and strategic planning for homeless services in the community. Local news media are invited to cover this event and can make arrangements by contacting Aurora, Inc.
The Aurora Homeless Outreach Team leads the count with assistance from local homeless shelters and agencies, in partnership with the Region 12 Homeless Services Council and the Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County. Volunteers and community partners work together to engage with individuals, connecting them to services while collecting critical data to better meet the needs of the Region 12 community.
In Evansville, United Caring Services initiates a White Flag program, welcoming anyone in need of shelter for the night, while the Evansville Rescue Mission hosts White Flag accommodations specifically for men. These efforts make it easier to account for many individuals experiencing homelessness. Shelter staff complete survey forms for each individual and enter the data into HMIS (Indiana’s Homeless Management Information System). Shelter programs not yet integrated with HMIS receive paper forms, which are completed and returned to Aurora for entry into the system.
In addition to emergency shelter data, Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team leads a group of volunteers who conduct street outreach, visiting locations where individuals experiencing homelessness gather or stay. In addition to Vanderburgh County, this street count extends to nine other counties within the region, including Knox, Warrick, Daviess, Spencer, Pike, Dubois, Perry, Posey, and Gibson. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of homelessness throughout the entire Region 12 area.
Savannah Whicker, administrator for the Commission says, “The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a vital tool for understanding the scope and dynamics of homelessness in our community. While it is not the only metric the Commission uses to determine needs and identify solutions, it provides invaluable insights into where gaps exist in our current services. This data helps guide our efforts to align resources and implement targeted strategies to ensure every individual and family has access to the support they need.”
