Purpose

The purpose of the Vallejo/Solano County Point-in-Time (PIT Count) is to obtain a snapshot census of people experiencing homelessness in the Vallejo/Solano community on one night in January.

The count includes people who, on the night of the count, are:

• Sheltered (living in emergency shelters or transitional housing) or
• Unsheltered (staying out doors or places not designed for habitation including vehicles, streets, parks and abandoned buildings)

The unsheltered and sheltered Homeless PIT Count is conducted at least biennially and is a requirement to receive homeless assistance funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PIT Count also presents a great opportunity to raise awareness of the myriad challenges our homeless citizens face, hear personal experiences from those experiencing homelessness, and demonstrate the compassion and generosity of the Solano community!

The 2021 PIT Count is Postponed to 2022

The Housing First Solano Continuum of Care (CoC) PIT Count Workgroup has decided to postpone the unsheltered PIT Count from January 25, 2021 to early 2022 in order to protect the health and safety of all those involved.

Although early 2022 may feel far away, a successful unsheltered PIT Count requires a lot of advance planning and volunteers. So, although there will be no unsheltered PIT count on January 25, 2021, we are still hoping you can offer your support for the 2022 count! Below are some ways to stay involved:

• Subscribe to the CoC listserv and attend CoC meetings the fourth Wednesday of every month. Request to join the PIT workgroup to be notified of future workgroup meeting dates.
• Volunteer for the unsheltered PIT count in 2022 and recruit your friends, family, and colleagues to do so as well by using this registration form! 
• Donate incentives (socks, gift cards, etc.) to encourage participation in the PIT count from those with lived experience, especially youth. Please email Solano@homebaseccc.org or SolanoPIT@simtechsolutions.com if you have questions, want to make a donation for 2022 or need additional information.

What to expect in 2022

You will be asked to sign-up for specific locations and times to help conduct the PIT Count. There will be training materials for all volunteers. Frequently asked questions pamphlets, training resources, and additional information will be provided at the training sessions. Thank you for your help in ensuring that every individual experiencing homelessness counts!

COVID-19 considerations

Your health and safety, as well as the safety of people experiencing homelessness, is our priority. Volunteers are required to follow state and county public health guidelines when conducting the PIT Count, including social distancing when possible and wearing a mask at all times. Trainings prior to the Count will be held online, and singular household groups can sign up together to minimize risks.

Volunteers are required to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to the Point-In-Time Count, agree to not participate if they have COVID-19 related symptoms (i.e. fever, coughing, shortness of breath, etc.), and to notify the Continuum of Care if volunteers experience symptoms within 14 days after conducting the Point-in-Time Count.

Volunteer Trainings

Completion of a virtual training is required for all volunteers. The training will be offered at multiple times, but you'll only need to attend one session. After registering to volunteer for the Count on the following page, you'll receive an email confirming your registration. As we get closer to the Count, an email will be sent with information on how to register for and join a virtual training session!