Our Kroger cart full of items for outreach workers to offer people experiencing homelessness during the PIT Count
Each year, Continuums of Care (STEH is the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care) throughout the country conduct the HUD-mandated “Point in Time” (PIT) Count. The PIT Count is used to quantify the number of people in our homelessness system who are either in shelter or living on the streets at one standardized point in time. HUD collects this data to determine funding for certain homelessness services. Each PIT Count is conducted within emergency shelters and transitional housing programs, and uses dedicated outreach workers and volunteers who walk the streets of their city counting people and offering them access to emergency shelter.
For 80 people sleeping on the streets during the PIT Count on January 24, STEH was able to offer a bit more comfort through the generosity of private donations, volunteers, and a donation from The Kroger Company. Due to Kroger’s generosity, STEH was able to provide potentially life-saving care packages to people on the streets.
Before the PIT Count, volunteers gathered at the STEH offices to assemble care packages of food, medical supplies, and clothing. Once assembled, the packages were distributed to people on the streets by seven groups of volunteers and Outreach Workers who canvassed the streets of Cincinnati until 2am.
Strategies to End Homelessness would like to extend our thanks to The Kroger Company, the street outreach workers, volunteers and our staff for their dedication to ensuring a safe and quick PIT Count.
Read More: “Every Person Counts” by CoC Director Jen Best from before the PIT Count on the purpose of the PIT Count and what outreach workers say are most needed by people experiencing on-the-streets, literal homelessness.
Our volunteer crew met at Strategies the night before the PIT Count to assemble care packages for the homeless.
