Point in Time count
The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in January. It is held toward the end of the month during the hours when unsheltered individuals are most likely to be identified. Required nationally by HUD (Housing and Urban Development), the PIT Count provides a snapshot of homelessness in Memphis and Shelby County at a given point in time, and it is one of several critical elements used for measuring progress in our efforts to end homelessness.
NOTE: COVID-19 greatly impacted the 2021 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of homelessness in Memphis/Shelby County. Although unsheltered homelessness doubled since 2020 according to the 2021 PIT Count, overall homelessness numbers have declined; however, we are not considering this an opportunity to celebrate, due to the impacts of COVID-19 on this year’s count and homelessness overall. Specifically, the 2021 PIT Count in Memphis/Shelby County was impacted by: 1) a decrease in emergency shelter and transitional housing enrollments for social distancing, or other safety protocols that acted as entry barriers, and; 2) the eviction moratorium that, while imperfect, allowed for 3,000 fewer evictions filed in the months preceding the count (Nov. 2020 – Jan. 2021) compared to previous years.
