2023 Portland Tri-County Point in Time Count

Overview:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities that receive Continuum of Care (CoC) funding to conduct a Point in Time (PIT) Count. Starting in 2023 Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties will collaboratively endeavor to conduct a Tri-County coordinated PIT to fulfill this requirement. HRAC contributed to all phases of the 2023 Tri-County PIT Count. The counties determined that they would next conduct a street count in 2025.

General Info:

Researchers:

Marisa Zapata, Ethan Sharygin, Christina Wei, Jacen Greene, Franklin Spurbeck

Project Administrators:

Carolyn Niehaus, Focus Strategies

Status:

Completed

Partners:

Clackamas County, Multnomah County, Washington County

Funding:

Funded by Counties

News Coverage:

Multnomah County Press Release, KATU, KTVL, JAM'N 107.5, KXL, Portland Tribune, OPB, AXIOS Portland.

Downloads:

Findings Report
Doubled Up Report
Methods Report
Recommendations Report

Contact Info:

pit2023@pdx.edu

TRI-COUNTY Point-In-Time Count – status updates

Updates as of 5/7/2023

The Tri-County regional Point-In-Time (PIT) Count took place from Wednesday, January 25^th to Tuesday, January 31^st 2023. Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties are working together to plan and conduct the PIT Count in coordination. Below, please find a summary of the decisions that informed the 2023 PIT Count.

Linked here are the 2023 PIT Reports submitted to the counties in Spring 2024:

Findings Report
Doubled Up Report
Methods Report
Recommendations Report

We have grouped the PIT Count updates into three data collection categories:

Project-Wide

Inclement Weather or Other Unforeseen Disruption Plan

Activity	Status Update
Inclement weather plan	• February 22-28 selected as the contingency dates in case of any weather or public health disruptions.

Unsheltered Count

Unsheltered Survey

Activity	Status Update
Survey Items	• The survey has been approved by all counties
Supplemental Data	• Counties agreed to the use of administrative date to supplement information collected in the survey.

CountingUs Mobile Application

Activity	Status Update
CountingUs Set Up	• PSU has configured the CountingUs app.
Contracting for CountingUs	• The contract with SimTech has been executed through Washington County.
Use of Mobile Application	• Counties have agreed to use the CountingUs app.

Volunteer and Outreach Worker Recruitment

Activity

Status Update

Communication

• PSU has created the following email for any PIT related questions and communication: pit2023@pdx.edu

• PSU has created the following resource page for enumerators: https://www.pdx.edu/homelessness/2023-pit-count-resources

Volunteer and Outreach Worker Training

Activity

Status Update

Training Dates

• Volunteer trainings were held on the following dates:

◦ Tuesday January 17, 2023 at 10:00-11:30 a.m.

◦ Wednesday January 18, 2023 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.

◦ Thursday January 19, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

◦ Saturday January 21, 2023 from 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Training Format

• Trainings were conducted online

• Trainings included volunteers from all three counties, with breakout rooms for each County during a portion of the training.

Shifts, Coverage, and Assignments

Activity	Status Update
Participating Sites	• Counties have communicated with participating sites about the PIT count.
Assignments	• Counties and PSU have assigned enumerators to shifts and assignments.

Participant Incentives

Activity

Status Update

Durable Goods

• PSU coordinated with each County to deliver durable goods to their providers or access points.

• PSU has placed the order for durable goods.

Gift Cards

• Counties will not be providing any gift cards as incentives.

Sheltered Count

HMIS Participating Shelters

Activity

Status Update

Data Collection

• HMIS data will be used for PIT count in HMIS participating shelters.

• Data quality review and reporting plans in progress.

Non-HMIS Participating Shelters (Multnomah County only)

Activity	Status Update
Data Collection	• Unsheltered survey questions will be used for non-HMIS participating shelters in Multnomah County.
Participating Sites	• Multnomah County and PSU are compiling a list of non-HMIS participating shelters where surveys will be administered

Doubled Up Count

Activity

Status Update

Data Collection

• PSU will use existing data sources for the doubled-up estimates.

• No additional data collection will be required of the Counties.

HUD Should Help Communities Better Leverage Data to Estimate Homelessness

A November 2021 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), this study examines “communities’ approaches for counting people experiencing homelessness and HUD’s guidance for using these approaches.” It also articulates some information about what is known relative to funding sources around PIT counts.

screen shot of GAO-20-433, HOMELESSNESS: Better HUD Oversight of Data Collection Could Improve Estimates of Homeless Population document

Better HUD Oversight of PIT Data Collection Could Improve Estimates

A July 2020 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), this study examines efforts to measure homelessness and HUD’s oversight of these efforts and factors associated with recent changes in homelessness.

HUD Point in Time Count Overview

This page, hosted by HUD, links to notices about the 2023 count and guides, tools, and resources that HUD provides to support the administration of the Point in Time Count.