Point in Time Count 2024
Once again this year, Bell employees joined with other housing providers for the annual Point in Time Count. In a light-to-heavy drizzle in the early morning of January 25, teams traveled to pre-determined designated areas around the perimeter of York City to look for signs of people experiencing homelessness.
One team included Lori Leister, Bell’s assistant director of mental health services (who also supervises Bell’s NextDoor program), Airis Mercado, program coordinator of Bell’s MH Supported Housing program, and community engagement director, Averie Clark. During the two plus-hour timeframe, they discovered a few tent encampments and evidence of people sleeping in their vehicles.
The Point in Time Count is a HUD required activity for housing providers that occurs within the last 10 days of January to assess the number of both sheltered and unsheltered people who are without permanent homes.
Forms are completed for each witnessed incidence, including in-person interviews if people are visible and willing to participate. If able to ask questions, basic info on demographics is gathered, along with info on why people are in the situation they are in. That recorded data goes back to the Coalition and is then forwarded to HUD.
While teams do have supplies and literature to share, they respect a person’s space and privacy at all times, do not enter an area uninvited, or take photos.
The event is coordinated through the York County Coalition on Homelessness. with coordination from Friends and Neighbors of Pennsylvania who are well-versed in outreach.
It is always a meaningful event that Bell is happy to participate in to understand the needs and challenges people are facing.
Your gift to support Bell’s shelter services will help families and individuals experiencing homelessness to access housing and resources.