January 30, 2025
Annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count Conducted in Lake County
More than 100 volunteers worked overnight into Thursday, January 30 to conduct the 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time (P.I.T.) Count. Led by the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless, in collaboration with Lake County Community Development, the P.I.T Count is a vital initiative that measures unhoused individuals and families across the community on a single night every January.
Volunteers teamed up in groups of two to five to search Lake County for individuals living in places not suitable for habitation. They drove within designated areas while searching on foot, giving out care packages with hats, gloves, blankets, hand warmers and protein bars to those they encountered. Teams also offered transportation to a local shelter and a resource to follow up to provide further assistance.
"I want to thank the overwhelming number of Lake County residents who volunteered last night—they left their warm homes to seek out our unhoused neighbors to help them find permanent shelter," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "Family homelessness is increasing around the country, and Lake County is no exception. The data we gather tonight will help us target resources for the greatest benefit of those who are suffering."
Lake County is firmly committed to addressing homelessness. The rising cost of housing has significantly contributed to the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in the county and across the country, especially for families. The County’s Strategic Plan prioritizes increasing the supply of affordable housing in support of fostering a healthy and inclusive community.
The P.I.T. Count takes place nationwide and is reported into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Data from this count helps guide the work needed to effectively address homelessness not only in Lake County but across the country.
Last year, the P.I.T. Count saw a 50 percent increase in unhoused individuals in Lake County compared to 2023. Data from 2023 also showed 85 percent of the homeless were unhoused for the first time, and a 75 percent increase in family homelessness.
"The benefits of the P.I.T. Count are two-fold. It serves as an opportunity for the public to focus on the overwhelming housing needs here in Lake County and it provides the data necessary to design solutions appropriate to the size and scale of the County’s need," said Dominic Strezo, Lake County Community Development Administrator.
Following the P.I.T. Count, volunteers and staff will conduct further interviews and pull additional information from local shelters and agencies. The data collected helps to demonstrate the County’s need for federal resources for assistance through the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program.
Full data and information from this year’s P.I.T. Count will be available in the late spring.
"Homelessness can impact anyone at any time because either we become homeless, or someone we care about does," said Eric Foote, Lake County Coalition for the Homeless President. "When that happens, a community’s resources are called upon to assist. The P.I.T. Count is an excellent example of the community coming together to help make a difference for those experiencing homelessness."
For over a decade, Lake County has conducted a Point-in-Time Count with the help of dedicated local volunteers. The Lake County Coalition for the Homeless and Lake County Community Development work throughout the year on multiple projects and initiatives to aid the homeless.
Volunteer opportunities are available year-round to assist the County’s fight to end homelessness. Visit the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless website to learn more.
|
