Point-In-Time

PIT 2019 Photo
PIT members preparing to leave for the count

POINT-IN-TIME 2026

ABOUT THE EVENT

HOPES Center of Racine, a member agency of the CoC, facilitates year-round street outreach. However, on the fourth Wednesday of January and July each year, homeless service providers and volunteers join forces and “take to the streets” to locate and count persons experiencing street homelessness in Racine County and offer them shelter and other services.

THE PURPOSE OF POINT IN TIME STREET OUTREACH

The primary goal of the Point-In-Time Street Outreach event is to identify anyone without shelter and help them identify shelter options and other community services. The secondary goal is to obtain demographic information to help us identify gaps in services and the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Point-in-Time is also a requirement for Federal, State, and City funding for homeless and homeless prevention assistance received in Racine County.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FIND SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS?

  • Determine if there are any immediate medical, safety, or food needs and address those needs
  • Take the individual to shelter (if the person agrees to go)
  • Connect people to the street outreach team (if they decline or are not able to enter the shelter)
  • Assist the individual in contacting family and friends if requested
  • Provide information about community services and provide direct referrals
  • Conduct a brief interview to find out more about the individual’s situation and obtain demographic information

WHEN IS THE NEXT POINT-IN-TIME?

The next point-in-time will be Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 9 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.

PREPARING FOR PIT: THE POINT-IN-TIME WORKGROUP

The Point-in-Time Work Group falls under the Continuum of Care for the City & County of Racine’s (CoC) HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) Committee. The work group oversees the preparation, implementation, and reporting of Point-in-Time counts. The point-in-time count is an annual count of the number of people experiencing homelessness, as defined in the HEARTH (Homeless Emergency Assistance for Rapid Transition to Housing) Act of 2009. The objective of the PIT Work Group is to organize and implement PIT in a manner that will result in the most accurate estimate possible of the number of people experiencing homelessness in the City and County of Racine on the night-of-count. Our PIT count for Racine becomes part of the Wisconsin and United States counts.

The Point-in-Time Work Group has already formed for the 2026 Point-in-Time event and is working on preparations.

PIT 2026 PARTICIPATION AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Pre-registration is required to participate on the night of the count. Registration is now open until January 19, 2026. Click here to register.

Any agency that receives funding from the HUD/COC or ESG is required to participate in the planning and implementation of Point-in-Time, but we encourage all agencies to take part in this important activity regardless of funding source. Community members are also encouraged to attend.

[Page updated: 12/28/2025]