OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Volunteers set out Wednesday to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in Oakland County.
The Point in Time (PIT) Count is conducted nationwide during the last 10 days in January.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the annual data which is used to allocate funding.
The volunteers checked areas across Oakland County, accounting for the number of people living on the streets. Shelters and transitional housing also report numbers for the count.
During the PIT Count in 2023, 386 people were accounted for in Oakland County.
At the local level, the count is essential to understanding the services and resources needed in the community.
“To me, that’s the most important part is that we’re connecting them with services in our community, because its not just about tonight its about what we’re going to do for them long term,” said Holly Gauthier with Alliance for Housing Oakland County.