OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The annual count of people experiencing homelessness took place Wednesday in Oakland County.
Volunteers went out in teams to do the count.
The Point in Time (PIT) Count is conducted nationwide during the last 10 days in January.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the annual data which are used to allocate funding.
The volunteers checked areas across Oakland County, accounting for the number of people living on the streets.
Shelters and transitional housing also report numbers for the count.
During the PIT Count in 2024, 357 people were accounted for in Oakland County.
At the local level, the count is essential to understanding the services and resources needed in the community.
“The goal of this is to honestly get an idea and a picture of homelessness of what it looks like in our area,” volunteer Shawna Reynolds said. “And this really does affect funding.”
In addition to collecting information, the volunteers offer those without a place to stay a ride to a shelter.
Those who declined a shelter were given hygiene supplies along with gear to stay warm.
On Wednesday (Jan. 29), volunteers also conducted a PIT count in Wayne County.