A surveying crew of 125 volunteers on Sunday will begin counting people who are homeless at 50 areas known for encampments and other activity throughout El Paso County. The process will continue through Wednesday for the yearly Point in Time and Housing Inventory Count, according to organizers.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s big initial weekend push to collect information voluntarily from people living on the streets as well as in shelters and transitional housing marks a change in strategy from the typical Monday start.<\/p>\n
ChangeLine, a nonprofit that leads the federal government-mandated census as the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care\u2019s administrator, wanted to sync its efforts with a regularly scheduled giveaway of clothing, food and free haircuts, said Merrina Mendez, community relations manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s on a Sunday this year to align with the community hand-up event that occurs every last Sunday of the month that\u2019s coordinated by a nonprofit, Because We Choose To,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019ll be receiving services at that location, and we\u2019ll work to get surveys completed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you sleep last night?\u201d is one of the questions interviewers ask survey takers.<\/p>\n
Saturday night\u2019s predicted single-digit temperatures could drive people to indoor locations where they might not normally hang out, organizers said, which could affect this year\u2019s count.<\/p>\n
For the past several years, the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care has worked to increase the number of participants by hiring current and formerly homeless people to assist. Organizers also have added more locations where they seek out people who are homeless to fill out the census.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s Point in Time count \u2014 which only records the self-reported sleeping status of one single night in January \u2014 reached a record high of 1,745, up substantially from 1,146 in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew if was far from being accurate, we knew we needed more people involved and engaged, and we knew with a more adequate amount of people counted, we could have a more adequate response,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cThe increase is not necessarily because homelessness has increased but because we\u2019ve had significant engagement and involvement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results won\u2019t be released until the summer and will be used in determining funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as local planning, resources, gaps and outreach services in the community, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not trying to shape the data but to start monitoring it with more understanding,\u201d Mendez said. <\/p>\n
She said she expects this year\u2019s data to \u201creflect ongoing pressures in our community in housing and affordable housing and sheltering people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pikes Peak Continuum of Care is slated to receive just above $5 million in HUD funding for the 2025-2026 cycle.<\/p>\n
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