PIT Starts Here.

This count wouldn’t be possible without your enthusiasm and passion for the community, and we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Conducting the count can seem overwhelming to new volunteers. However, the process is actually quite simple. This page contains everything you need to conduct a successful count.

Please review the steps and materials below and let us know if you have any questions.

Happy counting!

Forms & Resources

This page is home to all of the most important resources that counting centers and volunteers need for the count. Copies of all count forms will be available on January 25th at Serenity House Housing Resource Centers, located in Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks.

To the left is the recording of our January 4th Informational PIT Count Meeting via Zoom.

2024 PIT Count forms are now available below!

Unsheltered Count

This is the form you will use most often in the count! The following form should be used for people we encounter who spent the count night out of doors, in their own vehicle, in an abandoned building, etc. This form also should be used for those who are living temporarily with family and friends.

Unsheltered Form: English

Sheltered Count

The “sheltered” category includes people who spent the night of the count living in emergency shelter and transitional housing including voucher funded motel stays. We must use this form regardless of whether or not our sheltered neighbors plan on revisiting their shelter environment in the future.

Sheltered Form: English

Consent Refused

There are no longer separate forms for consent refused. Counters will use the first question to determine whether or not to collect personal identifying information and signatures by having the head of household answer the first question on the count forms.

This refers to people who prefer their personal identifying information not be put into HMIS or who are fleeing domestic violence. For security purposes, it is important that we do not record the names or identifying information of these individuals.

Example Unsheltered Form

If you are new to the count or unsure of how to complete this year’s form, please click here or on the image to the left to open an example PDF of the general 2024 unsheltered count form.

Example
sheltered Form

Please click here or on the image to the left to open an example PDF of the general 2024 sheltered count form. Note: this example is for someone who is consent refused, meaning they are either fleeing domestic violence or do not want their personal identifying information put into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

Conducting the Count:

Step One: approach the community member and ask if they are willing to participate in the survey.

This survey is incredibly important to us, as well as to local, state, and even federal funders. It helps them know who is out there, how they became homeless, and where the greatest needs of the community lie.

Step Two: determine which form to use by first asking if the community member has a history of domestic violence (DV).

This is a critical question because we MUST NOT collect any personally identifiable information from current or past victims of DV. If your community member does have experience with DV, please use a “consent refused” sheltered or unsheltered form.

Step Three: ask the community member where they slept last night.

This question determines whether volunteers should use the sheltered or unsheltered survey form.

Step Four: work through the questions on the form.

Please be as thorough as possible, although it is okay if there are certain questions they don’t feel comfortable with answering. When they do not wish to answer a question, please mark the answer space with “NA” or a slash so that we know the question was still asked.

Consider working through the form as a Q&A, writing down each verbal response. This tends to result in more legible forms that make data entry easier. Typically, clients will sign the form upon completion. However, if the client has a history of DV or participates in the count as “consent refused,” please DO NOT collect their signature.