January 16, 2026 1
COUNCIL FACT SHEET - January 16, 2026
POINT IN TIME COUNT BACKGROUND
• The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that Continuum of Cares (CoCs) conduct a count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness at least once every two years and an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens. • This effort, known as the “ Point-in-Time” (PIT) count, provides a single night snapshot of individuals and families staying at emergency/transitional shelters in the county, as well as unsheltered individuals, such as those sleeping outside, in tents or vehicles, under bridges, or other places not meant for human habitation.
• Each count is planned and coordinated by the local CoC and carried out on a single Day in January.
• The information gathered during the PIT count is the main source of data used by the federal government to track the number, demographics, and needs of people experiencing homelessness throughout the country over time. These numbers are also used to determine federal and state funding allocations to address homelessness.
• The unsheltered count does not include those at risk of homelessness or in temporary accommodations (e.g. temporarily “doubled up” in someone else’s home or “couch surfing,” etc.), which is one of the reasons the numbers from the PIT count are considered to be lower than t he
ac
tual number of individuals who are homeless or precariously housed.
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY – BACKGROUND OF THE POINT IN TIME COUNT • The last PIT count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness occurred Monday, January 29, 2024. A successful PIT count locates as many people experiencing homelessness as possible. In San Joaquin County, the previous PIT counts have been conducted utilizing an all- volunteer led effort, with survey support from the HMIS Lead .
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After the 2022 PIT count, the SJCoC recognized the importance of refining its methodology to:
b
etter align with HUD regulations, provide a standardized methodology, and provide a more accurate count . In 2023 t he SJCoC procured a professional organization, Applied Survey Res
earch (ASR) to conduct the 2024 count Countywide.
• ASR is a nationally recognized expert in homeless enumeration and surveying, having conducted over 100 PIT counts throughout the nation.
ATTACHMENT A
CITY OF STOCKTON
POINT IN TIME COUNT
January 13, 2026 2
2026 POINT IN TIME COUNT METHODOLOGY AND TIMELINE
• The refined methodology for 2024 that will be utilized again in 2026 includes the following elements:
o Employing an observation- based method of enumerating all census tracts within the county, with an emphasis on outreach teams with lived experience guides and direct service program staff.
o Matching volunteers and homeless guides to familiar census tract routes. o Utilizing a smartphone data collection app called Survey 123 to record the number of homeless people observed in addition to basic demographic and location information. o Conducting a separate and targeted count of young people experiencing homelessness. o Deployment sites will be located throughout the county. o Assistance from Police Departments regarding encampment location, safety, and possible available resources.
o Conducting an in- person representative survey during the three-four-week period immediately following the general street census and utilizing people with lived experience of homelessness and local service providers as surveyors. • The 2026 PIT count will be the eleventh count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness conducted in San Joaquin County since 2005 and will take place on Tuesday, January 27 th from
5:00am to 10:00am.
• The SJCoC utilized available Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program grant funds, funding from the City of Stockton, San Joaquin County, and Continuum of Care and secured additional funding support from Managed Care Plans , to engage Applied Survey Research to lead the 2026 PIT count efforts.
• Volunteers are recruited by ASR and provide an integral part of the PIT count effort; they help support a robust and accurate collection of data on people experiencing homelessness in the community. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up as part of a team but will be grouped into a team if signing up individually. Each t eam (one car per team) is assigned one or more census tract routes , depending on size . Volunteers must agree to complete all assigned routes , estimated to be a five-hour commitment. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up using the link provided in the resources below.
POINT IN TIME COUNT RESOURCES
• Information and reports on previous SJCoC PIT counts is available at:
http://www.sanjoaquincoc.org/point-in-time-sjc/.
• Registration to volunteer for the 2026 PIT Count:
https://www.appliedsurveyresearch.org/pitc-sanjoaquin
• Q uestions about the PIT count, contact Alex Werner from Applied Survey Research [email protected].
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ATTACHMENT A