After the Count

Traditionally, PiT Counts are held over a short time frame, usually between four and six hours. During this time, the shelter count and the street count happen simultaneously. This reduces the likelihood that individuals are counted and surveyed more than once. Unfortunately, magnet events and service-based counts – the methods most effective in capturing youth – increase the likelihood that a youth could participate in the PiT Count survey more than once.  While volunteers should ask all survey participants if they have previously participated in the survey a youth may, understandably, be inclined to participate more than once, to receive additional honoraria.

One approach to de-duplicating the data is to create unique identifiers for each participant. For example, the first two letters of a participants first and last name and their year of birth. During the data analysis stage, duplicate entries can be removed.

Resource: For more information on unique identifiers or other de-duplication methods, refer to the Youth Count! Process Study.

PiT Counts provide two types of information. First, the number of people experiencing homelessness; that is, “the count.” Second, data on demographics and the experience of homelessness. If you choose to include couch surfing in your PiT Count, carefully consider how to analyze the data. As noted, a PiT Count will not provide an accurate estimate of hidden homelessness; therefore, you should not include youth that are couch surfing in your total “count” of people experiencing homelessness in your community. Instead, report the number of youth who are couch surfing, separate from the number of youth who are unsheltered or sheltered; emphasize that the number of couch surfing youth is a significant underestimation.

Include a youth section in your PiT Count report. Here, you can aggregate all of the surveys completed by youth, ages 16-24 – regardless of their sleeping location. This section should discuss demographics and trends but it should not claim that the number of completed surveys is the number of youth experiencing homelessness (as per the explanation above).

The data collected through the PiT Count should be shared with those that it affects most: individuals experiencing homelessness. Consider providing copies of the PiT Count report or a summary of the youth data to youth-services in your community. Further, be sure to share the results of the count with your Youth Advisory Board. Encourage them to ask questions and share the results with others. Do not forget to circulate the report to other stakeholders, for instance: police, schools and health-services, faith-based organizations.

Leverage the relationships you built with media at the outset of the count. Use the PiT Count results to start, or continue conversations about youth homelessness. Consider this an opportunity to dispel myths about homeless youth and encourage greater local support for plans to end youth homelessness.

Seek feedback from youth, youth-services and volunteer evaluations to identify the successes and challenges of the count. The PiT Count Coordinator should make recommendations to the PIT Count Committee on strategies to improve youth engagement and enumeration in future years.