HUD has developed a series of tools and trainings to assist CoCs in their efforts to collect and report on PIT count and HIC data. In addition to these resources, each year HUD publishes an official Notice to guide PIT count and HIC data collection efforts, as well as a training to review the guidance released.
To search for community data, please visit the PIT Count and HIC Data and Reports section of this website.
Point-in-Time Count Methodology Guide
This guide provides CoCs with standards and guidance concerning acceptable methodologies and approaches to conducting PIT counts of homeless people. This guide replaces the Guide to Counting Sheltered Homeless People and the Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People.
Date Published: March 2015
Reporting Gender for the PIT Count
Individuals experiencing homelessness can now report multiple gender identities in the PIT Count but CoCs will only report one gender identity. This document provides CoCs with guidance for how to report multiple gender identities for the PIT Count data submission.
Date Published: February 2022
Counting People in Structures for the PIT Count
This guide provides CoCs with guidance for conducting PIT counts of people experiencing homelessness in low visibility structures like recreational vehicles (RVs), tents, or other locations.
Date Published: January 2022
Paying for HIC and PIT Count Activities with ESG and ESG-CV Funding
ESG program recipients are required to work with the CoCs in their jurisdiction to collect and report homeless data, including the PIT count and HIC data. ESG recipients are required to report the PIT and HIC data as part of their Consolidated Plan to outline homelessness needs and resources. This resource outlines how ESG funds can be used to support the HIC and PIT count efforts.
Date Published: January 2022
How to Use Sampling within a CoC to Conduct an Unsheltered PIT Count
This guide describes how CoCs can use a sampling approach to estimate a total count of the number of people within their communities who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night of the PIT count. While this sampling guidance is applicable for any year, CoCs that typically canvass and count their full geographic area may want to use a sampling strategy for the 2021 count in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date Published: November 2020
CoC Analysis Tool: Race and Ethnicity
Each community has unique circumstances impacting homeless populations. The CoC Analysis Tool draws on PIT Count and American Community Survey data to facilitate analysis of racial disparities among people experiencing homelessness. Such an analysis is a critical first step in identifying and changing racial and ethnic bias in our systems and services.
Date Published: March 2020
These data sets contain PIT estimates and national PIT estimates of homelessness as well as national estimates of homelessness by state and estimates of chronic homelessness from 2007 - 2019. Estimates of homeless veterans are also included beginning in 2011. The accompanying HIC data is available as well from 2007 - 2019. Finally, this page also includes the project-level HIC files beginning in 2012.
Date Published: January 2020
Record-Report RRH Bed Inventories
This guide provides CoCs and HMIS Leads with guidance concerning recording and reporting Rapid Rehousing (RRH) bed inventories for available and occupied RRH beds, both for HMIS Participating and non-HMIS Participating projects.
Date Published: December 2019
Point-in-Time Count Standards and Methodologies Training
This training is intended for anyone involved in planning and implementing the PIT count. Participants can expect to gain an understanding of key concepts including HUD's PIT count minimum standards, the PIT Count Methodology Guide and its supplementary tools, and approved methodologies for conducting sheltered and unsheltered PIT counts.
Date Published: June 2018
Point-in-Time Count Implementation Tools
This resource page provides CoCs access to several tools to help them effectively implement their PIT counts of people experiencing homelessness.
Date Published: January 2022
PIT Count Volunteer Training Toolkit
This resource page hosts a collection of resources to support CoCs in training and providing supplemental resources to volunteers to conduct PIT counts.
Date Published: September 2019
Point-in-Time Count Implementation Tools
This resource page provides CoCs access to several tools to help them effectively implement their 2018 PIT counts of homeless people.
Date Published: April 2018
In order to collect PIT count data according to HUD standards, CoCs need to use high quality survey instruments. HUD is providing CoCs with a set of model surveys that they can use for the 2022 PIT count. These surveys reflect the review of best local practices and the input of leading survey and homeless methodology experts.
Date Published: January 2022
Using ArcGIS to Reduce Homelessness
This resource highlights how people can use HUD’s GIS Toolkit to analyze CoC boundaries and information about people living in those boundaries. Additionally, this resource highlights tools that Esri has developed to help communities end homelessness.
Date Published: October 2018
Point-in-Time Mobile Application: A Guide for Using Mobile Applications for Point-in-Time Counts
HUD created this resource based on its experience with its beta test of the HUD PIT Count Mobile Application (Mobile App). This document outlines how the process for implementing the Mobile App in communities and the lessons learned.
Date Published: December 2016
PIT Count Gender and Race Reporting Tool
This tool helps CoCs determine how to report the gender and race data that they collected in the PIT Count in HDX 1.0, based on the updated gender and race categories detailed in the FY 2022 HMIS Data Standards.
Date Published: March 2022
Reporting Gender for the PIT Count
Individuals experiencing homelessness can now report multiple gender identities in the PIT Count but CoCs will only report one gender identity. This document provides CoCs with guidance for how to report multiple gender identities for the PIT Count data submission.
Date Published: February 2022
CoC Analysis Tool: Race and Ethnicity
Each community has unique circumstances impacting homeless populations. The CoC Analysis Tool draws on PIT Count and American Community Survey data to facilitate analysis of racial disparities among people experiencing homelessness. Such an analysis is a critical first step in identifying and changing racial and ethnic bias in our systems and services.
Date Published: March 2020
Guidance for Domestic Violence Partners and CoCs on Participating in the PIT Count
These resources were developed to inform domestic violence (DV) providers and CoCs about the changes for the 2018 PIT count, the importance of including individuals and families fleeing domestic violence in the count, and the need to partner to better understand and serve survivors of domestic violence. These resources focus on activities that can be conducted during the actual counting process (e.g., best practices for discussing domestic violence experience with persons who are counted on the night of the count) with one document focused on what CoCs can do to better conduct the count and another document focused on how DV providers can assist with the PIT count.
Date Published: December 2018
HUD has published the resources below to assist communities to better count youth experiencing homelessness. While these tools are optional, they are designed to provide unique insights from communities and experts across the country about how to better plan and conduct a count of youth experiencing homelessness, in the context of PIT counts.
Crosswalk of Key Federally-funded Child and Youth Homeless Contacts
This file contains a crosswalk of CoC primary contacts, Homeless Liaison (LEA) contact information for schools, and Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) providers. The goal of this file is to make it easier for stakeholders that serve children and youth experiencing homelessness that receive federal funding to know how to contact each other.
Date Published: February 2021
Housing and School Partnership on the Point-In-Time Count
This National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) fact sheet, geared towards a school audience, suggests strategies for how schools can help ensure the most comprehensive and effective count of youth experiencing homelessness during HUD’s PIT count.
Date Published: December 2018
Model PIT Count Surveys for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
These surveys reflect the input of leading survey and homeless methodology experts. In addition to having HUD’s required elements, the model surveys contain additional optional questions that many communities have used to learn more about their youth population. The PIT Youth Survey Addendum document pulls these questions into a separate document for communities that simply want to see what these questions are.
Date Published: November 2016
Promising Practices for Counting Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the Point-in-Time Counts
This document highlights several strategies and efforts communities have implemented to better count youth experiencing homelessness. This document also references other helpful resources communities can refer to as they plan their PIT counts.
Date Published: November 2016
Youth Count! is an initiative to help develop strategies so that communities can better count and understand their homeless youth population.
Veterans HIC/PIT Count Data Guidance Tool
This tool aims to foster a better understanding between homeless CoC and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) staff in their local HIC and PIT count roles, provide basic guidance on what projects and persons should be included, and help readers to learn about how veterans’ HIC and PIT count data is reported.
Date Published: December 2016
2023 PIT Count Office Hours – January 11, 2023
This session focused on Notice CPD-22-12: HIC and PIT count data collection for CoC and ESG Programs that was posted on October 26, 2022. This Office Hours session also provided guidance on the 2023 PIT Count.
2023 PIT Count Office Hours – December 7, 2022
This session focused on Notice CPD-22-12: HIC and PIT count data collection for CoC and ESG Programs that was posted on October 26, 2022. This Office Hours session also provided guidance on the 2023 PIT Count.
2022 PIT Count Office Hours – October 27, 2022
This session focused on the 2023 HIC and PIT count data submission and discussed anticipated changes to the count requirements. The Office Hours also focused on lessons learned from counting while addressing COVID-19 concerns.
2022 PIT Count Office Hours – March 22, 2022
This session focused on the 2022 HIC and PIT count data submission and provided guidance on the following topics:
2022 PIT Count Office Hours – January 12, 2022
This session focused on conducting the 2022 PIT count and provided guidance on the following topics:
2022 PIT Count Office Hours – December 15, 2021
This session focused on how to use sampling to conduct an unsheltered PIT count and safety considerations for counting during COVID-19.
2022 PIT Count Office Hours – November 23, 2021
This session focused on the 2022 PIT count and HIC Data Collection Notice.
2021 PIT Count Office Hours – April 20, 2021
This session focused on submitting 2021 PIT count and HIC data and provided guidance on the topics covered in the Data Submission Guidance.
2021 PIT Count Office Hours – January 19, 2021
This session focused on finalizing 2021 PIT count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) plans.
2021 PIT Count Office Hours – January 12, 2021
This session focused on the recently published CPD Memo: Availability of Waivers for the Biennial Point-in-Time Count of Unsheltered Homelessness in addition to Continuum of Care (CoC) questions about sampling and conducting the count.
2021 PIT Count Office Hours – December 15, 2020
This session focused on observation-based PIT counts, brief surveys, and alternative data sources.
2021 PIT Count Office Hours – December 3, 2020
This session focused on using sampling to conduct an unsheltered PIT count.
2021 PIT Count Office Hours – November 24, 2020
This session focused on 2021 Unsheltered PIT Count Flexibilities.
2020 Point-in-Time Count Office Hours – January 15, 2020
This session focused on HMIS data quality to support PIT count and HIC data collection and reporting.
2020 Point-in-Time Count Office Hours – October 29, 2019
This session focused on reminders for Joint Transitional Housing and Rapid Rehousing (TH-RRH) recipients and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) recipients in preparation for the 2020 PIT count and HIC.
2020 Point-in-Time Count Office Hours – June 20, 2019
This session focused on PIT count planning processes and new PIT count tools that are under development.
2020 Point-in-Time Count Office Hours – April 4, 2019
In its April 2019 office hours session, HUD invited communities to bring any questions, solutions, and discussion topics related to PIT count planning, implementation, data, and reporting. This 90-minute session was an open forum with no pre-selected topics.
2019 Point-in-Time Count Office Hours – October 30, 2018
This session focused on PIT count volunteers, including recruitment, training, and waivers.
2019 Point-in-Time Count Office Hours – April 26, 2018
During this inaugural PIT Count Office Hours session, all communities were invited to participate in a discussion related to implementing the PIT count as well as an open forum for PIT count questions and answers.
2023 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2023 HIC and PIT Count data to the HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: March 2023
How to Use Sampling within a CoC to Conduct an Unsheltered PIT Count
This guide describes how CoCs can use a sampling approach to estimate a total count of the number of people within their communities who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night of the PIT count. While this sampling guidance is applicable for any year, CoCs that typically canvass and count their full geographic area may want to use a sampling strategy for the 2022 count in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date Published: March 2022
HIC and PIT Count Safety Considerations for Counting During COVID-19
Conducting the PIT counts requires coordinating a lot of people. During a pandemic, the gathering and intermixing of many people presents a risk of spreading the virus. However, this risk of virus spread can be minimized. This safety guidance strikes a balance between the need to maintain safety while collecting sufficient data to make life-saving decisions about serving people experiencing homelessness.
Date Published: November 2021
Notice CPD-21-12: HIC and PIT Count Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs
This Notice supersedes Notice CPD-18-08.
This Notice provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2022 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Date Published: November 2021
2021 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2021 HIC and PIT Count data to the HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: April 2021
CPD Memo: Availability of Waivers for the Biennial Point-in-Time Count of Unsheltered Homelessness
This memorandum explains the availability of waivers to the CoC program’s biennial PIT count of unsheltered homelessness requirements at 24 CFR 578.3, 24 CFR 578.7(c)(2), 24 CFR 578.7(c)(2)(i), and 24 CFR 578.7(c)(2)(iii). This memorandum also announces a simplified notification process for CoCs to use these waiver flexibilities.
Date Published: January 2021
Observation-Based PIT Count Example Form for Use on the Night of the Count - Updated December 2020
This Microsoft Word document is an example PIT count observation form a CoC could use or amend to suit their local PIT count process.
Date Published: December 2020
Observation-Based Unsheltered PIT Count Guidance and Example Form - Updated December 2020
This PDF document includes general PIT count observation guidance and an example PIT count observation form a CoC could use or amend to suit their local PIT count process.
Date Published: December 2020
How to Use Sampling within a CoC to Conduct an Unsheltered PIT Count
This guide describes how CoCs can use a sampling approach to estimate a total count of the number of people within their communities who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night of the PIT count. While this sampling guidance is applicable for any year, CoCs that typically canvass and count their full geographic area may want to use a sampling strategy for the 2021 count in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date Published: November 2020
Conducting the 2021 Unsheltered PIT Count
This document provides guidance to CoCs on how to safely conduct the 2021 Point-in-Time PIT count during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date Published: November 2020
2020 PIT Estimate of Veteran Homelessness in the U.S.
These documents report the PIT Count estimates of homeless veterans at a point in time in January 2020 by CoC and by State.
Date Published: March 2021
2020 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2020 HIC and PIT Count data to the HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: March 2020
2019 PIT Estimate of Veteran Homelessness in the U.S.
These documents report the PIT Count estimates of homeless veterans at a point in time in the last ten days of January 2019 by CoC and by State.
Date Published: November 2019
2019 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2019 HIC and PIT Count data to the HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: February 2019
These images are for use by CoCs to promote awareness of the 2019 PIT count. There are 10 different files for CoCs to use depending on their media needs. These include both English and Spanish versions of 5 different image formats: 2 PDF posters formatted to be printed at 11"x 17" and 18" x 24" dimensions, Facebook cover photos, Facebook event photos, and Twitter timeline photos.
Date Published: October 2018
Notice CPD-18-08: 2019 HIC and PIT Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs
This Notice supersedes Notice CPD-17-08.
This Notice provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2019 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Date Published: October 2018
2018 PIT Estimate of Veteran Homelessness in the U.S.
These documents report the PIT Count estimates of homeless veterans at a point in time in the last ten days of January 2018 by CoC and by State. The documents include a comparison to the estimate of homeless veterans at a point in time in 2017.
Date Published: November 2018
2018 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2018 HIC and PIT Count data to HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: March 2018
Notice CPD-17-08: 2018 HIC and PIT Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs
This Notice provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2018 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Please note that this Notice supersedes the previous similarly titled Notice (CPD-16-060).
Date Published: September 2017
2018 Housing Inventory and Point-in-Time Counts – Question and Answer Session
This Question and Answer session on the 2018 HIC and PIT count aims to assist communities in preparing to conduct their 2018 count.
Date Published: January 2018
Preparing for your 2018 Housing Inventory and Point-in-Time Counts
This webinar covers data collection requirements to assist communities in preparing for conducting their 2018 HIC and PIT counts.
Date Published: November 2017
2017 HIC and PIT Data Submission Presentation
This PowerPoint presentation provides CoCs with information on how to successfully enter and submit their FY 2017 HIC and PIT data to HUD.
Date Published: April 2017
2017 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2017 HIC and PIT Count data to HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: March 2017
Notice CPD-16-060: 2017 HIC and PIT Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs
This Notice provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2017 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Please note that this Notice supersedes the previous similarly titled Notice (CPD-15-10).
Date Published: August 2016
Preparing for your 2017 HIC and PIT Count Webinar
This webinar covers the 2017 Notice for HIC and PIT Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs. It highlights new reporting requirements and data collection guidance for the 2017 HIC and PIT Counts.
Date Published: November 2016
2016 PIT Estimate of Veteran Homelessness in the U.S.
These documents report the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count estimates of homeless veterans at a point in time in the last ten days of January 2016 by Continuum of Care (CoC) and by State. The documents include a comparison to the estimate of homeless veterans at a point in time in 2015.
Date Published: July 2016
2016 HIC and PIT Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2016 HIC and PIT Count data to HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: February 2016
Notice CPD-15-010: 2016 HIC and PIT Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs
This Notice provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2016 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Please note that this Notice supersedes the previous similarly titled Notice (CPD-14-014).
Date Published: November 2015
Preparing for Your 2016 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) & Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Webinar
This webinar, held December 2015, provides guidance on the 2016 Housing Inventory and Point-in-Time counts. The presentation covers the key changes to the HIC and PIT counts for 2016, important points regarding 2016 HIC and PIT count data collection, and provide instructions on how to access resources related to the HIC and PIT counts.
Date Published: December 2015
2015 HIC and PIT Data Submission Guidance
This guide provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2015 HIC and PIT count data to HUD.
Date Published: March 2015
Notice CPD-14-014: 2015 HIC and PIT Data Collection for CoC and ESG Programs
This Notice provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2015 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Please note that this Notice supersedes the previous similarly titled Notice (CPD-13-011).
Date Published: October 2014
This image is for use by CoCs to promote awareness of the 2015 PIT count. The image is in full color and is meant to be printed at 8.5" x 11". HUD has mailed a limited number of complimentary copies to CoCs but encourages CoCs to print additional copies as they deem fit to promote the count locally.
Date Published: September 2014
Notice CPD-13-011: 2014 HIC and PIT Count of Homeless Persons Data Collection Guidance
Note: CPD Notice 14-014 supersedes CPD Notice 13-011.
This document provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2014 HIC and PIT count. As CoCs begin to organize and plan these activities, staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference to ensure that they are capturing all of the required information.
Date Published: November 2013
2014 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2014 HIC and PIT Count data to HUD. Staff should review this guidance and use it as a reference when preparing their data for submission.
Date Published: March 2014
Preparing for Your 2014 Housing Inventory and Point-In-Time Counts Webinar
This webinar, held December 2013, provides guidance on the 2014 Housing Inventory and Point-in-Time counts. The presentation will cover the key changes to the HIC and PIT counts for 2014, important points regarding 2014 HIC and PIT count data collection, and provide instructions on how to access resources related to the HIC and PIT counts.
Date Published: January 2014
2013 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2013 HIC and PIT Count data to HUD.
Date Published: March 2013
2013 HIC and PIT Count of Homeless Persons Data Collection Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2013 HIC and PIT count.
Date Published: December 2012
This document is a supplement to HUD's 2013 HIC and PIT of Homeless Persons Data Collection Guidance.
Date Published: December 2012
Approved HIC Data for the FY 2013 - FY 2014 NOFA
These resources provide CoCs with information on the approved HIC data for the FY 2013 - 2014 CoC Program Competition NOFA. The data reflect what was officially submitted to HUD via HDX, and is what HUD will use in the assessment process. This information is available for the total Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) beds, total McKinney-Vento funded PSH beds, and total McKinney-Vento Funded Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) beds.
Date Published: June 2014
Preparing for Your 2013 HIC and PIT Count Webinar
This webinar presents the new requirements for completing the 2013 HIC and the PIT counts, as well as reviews existing data collection guidance for 2013 HIC and PIT Count.
Date Published: October 2012
This webinar covers the requirements for completing the 2013 HIC and the PIT count and will review data collection guidance for the Veterans Affairs funded programs.
Date Published: December 2012
2013 Reporting HIC & PIT Count Data in HDX Webinar
This webinar provides instructions on how to enter and update HIC and PIT data in the HDX.
Date Published: April 2013
2012 HIC and PIT Counts of Homeless Persons Data Collection Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2012 HIC and PIT count.
Date Published: February 2012
2012 HIC and PIT Count Data Submission Guidance
This document provides information to CoCs on how to successfully submit their 2012 HIC and PIT Count data to HUD.
Date Published: March 2012
This document is a supplement to HUD's 2013 HIC and PIT of Homeless Persons Data Collection Guidance.
Date Published: January 2012
Preparing for Your 2012 HIC and PIT Counts Webinar
This webinar presents the new requirements for completing the 2012 Housing HIC and the PIT count.
Date Published: October 2011
Preparing for Your 2012 HIC and PIT Count with Special Attention on Veteran Program Guidance Webinar
This webinar presents the new requirements for completing the 2012 HIC and the PIT count and review data collection guidance for the Veterans Affairs funded programs.
Date Published: November 2011
Reporting HIC and PIT Count Data in the Homelessness Data Exchange Webinar
This webinar provides instructions on how to enter and update HIC and PIT data in the HDX.
Date Published: March 2012
Guidance for Counting Veterans During the 2011 PIT Counts of Homeless People
This document provides information to CoCs on what information to collect in order to successfully complete their 2012 HIC and PIT count.
Date Published: December 2010
Guidance for Counting Unaccompanied Homeless Children During 2011 PIT Counts of Homeless People
This document highlights the importance of PIT counts and reviews HUD's changes to counting unaccompanied homeless children (previously called "unaccompanied youth").
Date Published: December 2010
This guidebook provides guidance on submitting data in the HDX for the annual Housing Inventory Count.
Date Published: March 2011
