point in time count Reports

“The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January. HUD requires that Continuums of Care (CoCs) conduct an annual count of homeless persons who are sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. CoCs also must conduct a count of unsheltered homeless persons every other year (odd-numbered years). Each PIT Count is planned, coordinated, and carried out locally.”
- United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

2026 point-in-time count

In recent years, the Mendocino County Homeless Services Continuum of Care (MCHSCoC) has voluntarily elected to engage in completing a count of people experiencingsheltered and unsheltered homelessness every year, even though the unsheltered count is only required every odd year.  (Exception - HUD provided MCHSCoC an exemption from the unsheltered count in 2021 during the pandemic.)  However, for the 2026 PIT Count, the MCHSCoC Governing Board has elected to engage in the HUD-required Sheltered PIT Count only, and to forego the Unsheltered PIT Count.  This decision was made solely due to staff capacity issues at the Mendocino County Department of Social Services (MCDSS).  The Unsheltered PIT Count requires considerable staff resources and engagement from the MCDSS.  The planning must begin in early fall, and the workload involved in carrying out a quality and comprehensive count is significant. 

In Fall 2025, MCDSS staffing levels for the Unsheltered PIT Count were insufficient.  The MCDSS program manager responsible for the unit's work did not feel confident in the team's capacity to devote enough time to the Unsheltered PIT Count project to ensure a successful and comprehensive outcome.  Simultaneously, a new significant and priority project related to the HUD's release of the FY2025 Continuum of Care Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for funding was released in late Fall 2025.  Historically, this NOFO provides a pathway to permanent housing solutions for hundreds of formerly homeless individuals in Mendocino County.  In response, MCDSS staff time needed to be devoted to this higher priority project, rather than the optional choice of focusing on the Unsheltered PIT Count. 

If a member of the public or a stakeholder is interested in further clarification about MCHSCoC's decision to forego an Unsheltered PIT Count in 2026, please contact Megan Van Sant at vansantm@mendocinocounty.gov.

2025 point-in-time count report

2022 Point-in-time count report

2019 point-in-time-count Report

2017 Point-in-time count Report

2015 Point-In-Time Count Report