One of the key responsibilities of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH) is organizing and executing the annual point-in-time count, or PIT count — an effort each January to get an accurate tally of people experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque.
The count is a federal requirement that’s critical for the funding of homelessness programs and initiatives. NMCEH member organizations and their volunteers also use the occasion to make connections with the city’s unhoused population.
The logistics aren’t easy and require the coordination of more than 100 volunteers. When the final numbers are published months later it comes with caveats, as the totals are affected by how many volunteers are available, weather conditions and whether an individual agrees to take a survey, among other factors.
Nevertheless, the numbers are rising. In 2023 the Albuquerque count was 2,394, and in 2024 it was 2,740 — an increase of 346. While both years represent levels that haven’t been seen in more than a decade, Mayor Tim Keller said at his State of the City address this summer that the city’s unhoused population is closer to 5,000.