2025 Point In Time (PIT) Count
Count with us!
The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a one-night survey of people experiencing homelessness in Austin and Travis County. Conducted every other January, the PIT Count is an opportunity to share space and time with our unhoused neighbors and provides our system valuable insights into the population we serve.
Join us the night of January 25, 2025!
Volunteer Registration Form
We’re recruiting at least 1,200 volunteers for the 2025 PIT Count. We can’t do it without you! Register now to join us the night of January 25 and make a difference for folks living unsheltered in our community.
Note: If you signed up for the volunteer interest list, you still need to register through our volunteer management platform. Please use the link below to register.
About the PIT Count
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What is the PIT Count?
The Point In Time Count (PIT Count) is an annual census of the homeless population in the Austin/Travis County area. Overnight starting January 25 (ending early in the morning January 26), 2024, hundreds of volunteers will head out across Austin/Travis County to survey as many people experiencing unsheltered homelessness as possible. Volunteers will count people sleeping in cars, tents, parks, under bridges, and on the streets. The information from this count is used to guide public policy and is vital for securing resources to help end homelessness in our community.
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Volunteer Roles
There are two types of volunteers, Team Leads and General Volunteers. Much of the count occurs on foot, so volunteers should be comfortable walking several miles during their shift. See the descriptions below for information on each volunteer role.
General Volunteer
This role is available for anyone over the age of 18. Prior to the night of the count, General Volunteers required to attend a virtual or in-person training (see calendar below). On the night of the count, General Volunteers will work on a team of no less than 3 people to canvas the assigned area. General Volunteers will talk with people living unsheltered to conduct a survey that helps ECHO better understand the scope of homelessness in our community.
Time Commitment:
- Approximately 2 hours to complete the mandatory training prior to the count (available online whenever and in-person in the weeks before the count)
- Approximately 5 hours on the night of the count which includes meeting up with your Team Lead, canvasing your area, and debriefing with your Team Lead once your shift is complete
Responsibilities:
- Respond to communications from your Team Lead.
- Complete the mandatory PIT Count General Volunteer training prior to the count
- Conduct surveys will all individuals found sleeping unsheltered during the count
- General Volunteers should expect to walk a few miles during the count
Team Lead
This role is available to individuals who were previously a PIT Count Team Lead, and individuals who have participated in the PIT Count as a General Volunteer and are interested in taking on a larger role. Team Leads are responsible for managing a team of 15-20 General Volunteers. Leading up to the count, Team Leads are expected to communicate relevant information to their team members as well as surveying their assigned section to become familiar with the area and where people may be staying. On the night of the count, Team Leads will oversee their team, and they are responsible for staying in communication with Headquarters.
Time Commitment:
- Approximately 5-10 hours per month from December through January including communication with your team and scouting your assigned section
- Approximately 5 hours the night of the count which includes meeting up with the General Volunteers on your team, canvasing your area, debriefing with your team after counting, and checking in with Headquarters
Responsibilities:
- Recruit as many of your friends colleagues, and family members as you can to participate in the PIT Count
- Complete General Volunteer training prior to the count
- Serve as the point of contact for your team of General Volunteers, answering questions and relaying information from the PIT Count organizers
- Meet with your team prior to the count to built rapport and strategize
- Gain familiarity with your assigned section
- This is one of the most important duties of Team Leads. Expect to spend time in the months leading up to the count scouting your area. Introduce yourself to people experiencing homelessness and try to identify likely areas to find people during the count.
- On the night of the count, guide your team around your assigned section. Team Leads will complete surveys in addition to managing their team.
- Team Leads should expect to walk a few miles during the count.
PIT Training Calendar
All volunteers are required to attend a training before the PIT Count. Please see below to find a training that works for you.