Every year, communities across the country come together to participate in the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to gather a snapshot of homelessness. It is an essential process for understanding the state of homelessness in a community, collecting data reported to Congress and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While the Point-in-Time numbers do not paint the complete picture of homelessness, they provide valuable insight into the issue and help identify trends over time. As a result, PIT is a vital tool for policymakers, service providers, and communities to understand and better address homelessness.

This year, I was part of the Winter Point-in-Time Count in the tri-county area, which includes Outagamie, Calumet, and Northern Winnebago counties. The event took place on January 22nd into the early morning of January 23rd when teams of volunteers like me went into the community to connect with individuals who were unsheltered—people sleeping in cars, abandoned buildings, or parks. I had heard about the PIT Count for years, but this was the first time I actively participated, and it was a profoundly eye-opening experience that I will carry with me.

The Importance of the PIT Count

The PIT Count is conducted every January and July to help determine the number of people experiencing homelessness in a community. It is important because it gives us a minimum count of people without stable housing and helps us understand the severity of the issue. This data is used to develop a Housing Inventory Chart for local communities and influences decisions at the state and federal levels regarding resources, funding, and housing solutions.

However, the number is not the only takeaway. The experience itself—the act of walking through the community, searching for individuals who are living in places not intended for human habitation helps humanize the issue of homelessness in a way that statistics alone cannot.

Why I Decided to Participate

For the past decade, first at Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs and now at the Community Foundation, I have been invested in addressing housing issues in our community. I knew the statistics, understood the data, and got to know individuals and families living in shelter. But there was one thing I had not done: I had never participated in the Point-in-Time Count.

The idea of approaching strangers and confronting the realities of homelessness made me uneasy. But my hesitation began to feel trivial compared to the challenges faced by our neighbor’s experiencing homelessness.

I knew that participating in the PIT Count would help me gain a deeper understanding of the issue, one that would shape my advocacy for change. So, I signed up.

Preparing for the Count

Several weeks before the count, we received helpful training from Liz Croley, the Coordinated Entry Specialist with the City of Appleton Health Department. Part of our “homework” was to watch The Man in the Dog Park film. The film offers an eye-opening look into the experiences and resilience of individuals experiencing homelessness through personal stories, interviews, and encounters. It highlights the cultural assumptions perpetuating homelessness and the potential for compassion-driven change.

One key element of the training was ensuring everyone’s safety— the volunteers and those we would encounter. Volunteers were encouraged to respect personal space and approach situations with empathy and understanding. Our primary goal was to offer support, share information about available shelter options, and—most importantly—treat everyone we encountered with respect.

The Night of the Count

On the evening of January 22nd, snow was falling, and the temperatures ranged in the upper teens to low 20s. This followed a week of frigid below-zero temperatures and harsh wind chills. I knew we had to be especially mindful of the cold and the risks to anyone without shelter.

At 10 p.m., volunteers from across the Fox Cities, including mayors, residents, and staff from human service agencies, gathered at the Salvation Army in Appleton for a briefing and to receive our assignments. We were given backpacks filled with essentials like hats, gloves, hand warmers, food, water, and gift cards for people who would participate in the survey.

The Salvation Army had set up a temporary shelter that night to ensure anyone who needed warmth and safety could find it. I was assigned to a team of volunteers, and together, we were dispatched to different parts of the community to begin our search.

An Eye-Opening Experience

As we drove our assigned route, my team encountered three people who self-identified as homeless. We approached them gently in each case, mindful of their personal space and comfort level. It is difficult to describe how humbling it is to approach someone in what is in essence their home for the night—whether that is a car, an abandoned storage unit, or another makeshift space —at 1 a.m. in freezing temperatures. You realize quickly how delicate the nature of this work is. We are not just counting individuals; we are engaging with lives and stories that are often hidden in the shadows.

The conversations we had were brief but meaningful. We offered information about available community resources, handed out supplies, and listened to their stories. For some, the Salvation Army shelter provided a welcoming place of refuge; for others, it was about recognizing their humanity and offering a listening ear.

The Numbers Are In

The total count for the night came in at 80 individuals, including 66 single adults and 6 families, consisting of 8 adults and 6 children.

Click Image to Read 2025 PIT Report

Chuck Sepers, the City of Appleton’s Chief Health Officer (also a PIT volunteer), explained this year’s increase: “While we expected an increase in homelessness, several factors have influenced this trend. Notably, a new HUD policy implemented in July 2024 extended the follow-up period for counting individuals experiencing homelessness from two days to a full week. The combination of a national rise in homelessness, a longer data collection period, and enhanced community partnerships has helped clarify the observed increase.” He further validated the numbers, stating, “We believe that July 2024 and January 2025 PIT counts represent the most accurate assessment of unhoused individuals in the Appleton and Fox Cities Region to date.”

Why It Matters

The Point-in-Time Count is more than just a numbers game—it is a reminder that our unhoused neighbors are people with lives, dreams, and struggles. The experience made me even more passionate about supporting initiatives to address the right we all have to safe, affordable housing. It is a complex issue, one that requires long-term solutions and sustained commitment. But it also calls for immediate compassion and action.

To those of you reading this—whether you are a donor, volunteer, or just someone who cares about our community—I encourage you to get involved. Whether it is participating in future PIT Counts, donating to organizations that are working to address access to housing, or simply educating yourself and others about the realities of the issue, every action helps. Together, we can make a difference for those who need it most.

Homelessness is a challenge that can be addressed with compassion, commitment, and the right resources. With collective action and understanding, we can create lasting solutions that ensure everyone has access to safe, stable housing.