Volunteers across Oklahoma City set out early on Jan. 23 to count the number of people experiencing homelessness, in an initiative led by the Key to Home Partnership. The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count, this year comprised of over 100 individuals, scattered throughout the city’s shelters, day centers, and less visible encampments, began their shifts as early as 3:30 a.m., continuing their efforts until about 7 p.m, detailed in a report from the City of Oklahoma City’s official news release.
While providing immediate resources, such as bus passes and connections to services, volunteers also gathered crucial data. As reported in the Point-in-Time count, “The annual PIT count provides data points that helps us create trendlines from year to year,” Homeless Strategy Implementation Manager Jamie Caves said, highlighting the importance of understanding the community’s response to homelessness, as stated by the City of Oklahoma City.
Multiple community partners joined forces to conduct this survey, including the Metropolitan Library System and Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, among others. The efforts to gauge trends are imperative as they shed light on the specific populations affected by homelessness and the impact of services provided to them, as described by the City of Oklahoma City’s news release. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates that funded communities run this survey at least biennially, but Oklahoma City opts to do so every year…