Take Action
Advocate
CFTH works every day to shift our community from managing homelessness to solving it. Find out how you can be a part of the solution:
Visit our
Local Data and Research ,
FAQ , and
Homelessness 101 pages to learn more about homelessness in the Houston region and stay informed on the latest data and trends.
Donate
CFTH believes that homelessness is solvable. When you donate to CFTH you can be sure that your support will have a direct, positive impact on solving homelessness in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.
For every $1 you donate to CFTH, we bring an additional $91 in public funding into the community to implement nationally-recognized programs with a proven success rate.
CFTH plays a key role in convening more than 100 partners, facilitating collaboration to ensure we are working together effectively and efficiently, and braiding together multiple complex funding streams to the tune of $55 million in the past year alone.
Since 2012, homelessness has decreased by over 63% and more than 32,000 people have been housed. At the two-year mark, 90% of these individuals are either still in their housing program, or they've had a positive exit.
Make an Online Donation Now!
Volunteer
Homeless Count
Get ready for the 2026 Annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count!
Join us for the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, a critical HUD-mandated census that provides a one-night snapshot of homelessness in our community and supports the Continuum of Care (CoC) funding process. This funding brought over $71 million to our area in 2024 to support permanent housing, services, and planning efforts.
Please be on the lookout for additional information regarding the 2026 PIT Count. This webpage will be updated as new information becomes available. Thank you!
About the Point-in-Time Count ("PIT Count")
The annual Point-in-Time Count (“PIT Count”) is a survey of those experiencing homelessness within CoCs throughout the United States on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PIT Count covers those living in Emergency Shelters, Transitional Housing, and Safe Havens1 (i.e., those homeless but in sheltered conditions) and those sleeping in places not meant for human habitation (i.e., those unsheltered).
Results from the PIT Count are used to determine trends in the number of people experiencing homelessness and, when possible, estimate the number of persons in specific categories such as youth, those fleeing domestic violence, and Veterans as well as conditions such as substance use disorder, HIV, or serious mental illness.
The PIT Count must take place during one night in the last ten calendar days of January. However, The Way Home has received permission from HUD to conduct the unsheltered portion of the PIT Count over a three-day period, given the large geographical size of the area.
Note: Due to the CoC NOFO competition, the 2026 PIT Count will occur on Monday, February 23, 2026, with volunteer dates scheduled for February 24–26, 2026. We also ask all volunteers to hold Friday, February 27, in case any count days need to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
The Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH), a 501c3, coordinates the annual “PIT Count” on behalf of the local homeless response system, The Way Home. This annual count and survey helps to identify homelessness trends over time and gives insight into the effectiveness of our community’s housing programs and homeless services.
PIT Count Training Information
Participation in the PIT Count requires mandatory training, which will:
- Provide an overview of the count and its importance,
- Explain how the count is conducted, including tools and our CoC's methodology,
- Offer clear guidance on roles and responsibilities,
- Share key do's and don'ts for conducting the count effectively and respectfully, and
- Ensure completion of training is documented.
In-Person Training Opportunities:
- Wednesday, Feb. 4, 20226, from 10:00 - 11:30 AM | Click here to register.
- Wednesday, Feb. 11, 20226, from 10:00 - 11:30 AM | Click here to register.
- Note: In-Person training opportunities are at a first-come first-serve basis. Please register for a virtual training session if there are no more seats/tickets available.
Virtual Training Opportunities:
- Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 10:00 - 11:30 AM | Click here to register.
- Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 1:00 - 2:30 PM | Click here to register.
- Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Click here to register.
- (LAST CALL) Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 1:00 - 2:30 PM | Click here to register.
Questions? Contact PIT@cfthhouston.org.
Note: Volunteer registration (which is separate from training registration) for the Count is also mandatory and should be completed by each volunteer independently after PIT Count training has been completed. Click the "Participation Requirements" to learn more.
Agency Requirements
1. CoC-funded Agencies: Required to assign two (2) volunteers for at least two (2) days of the count.
- Note: CFTH has already coordinated the required volunteers for CoC-funded agencies, and all identified staff have been notified. If you work for a CoC‑funded agency, your agency lead has already assigned volunteers on your behalf. Please direct any questions about who is assigned from your team internally within your agency. CFTH will not respond to inquiries about assignments unless they come directly from the designated PIT Contact. Additional volunteers are welcome. However, all team assignments will be made in coordination with the agency lead to ensure alignment and coverage across regions.
2. System Outreach Agencies: Required to assign at least two (2) volunteers each day of the count (3 days).
3. Agencies not funded by the CoC/YHDP NOFO: Required to allocate at least two (2) volunteers for at least one (1) day of the count.
Participation Requirements
To participate in the 2026 Point‑in‑Time (PIT) Count, all volunteers must meet the following requirements:
- Complete the 2026 PIT Count Training: All volunteers are required to fully participate in an official 2026 PIT Count training session — regardless of previous PIT Count experience. Volunteers must register for the training using their agency name and email, when applicable.
- Register as a 2026 PIT Count Volunteer: After completing training, each volunteer must independently submit their PIT Count volunteer registration. Note: Volunteer registration is separate from training registration.
- Set Up the Counting Us Mobile App: Volunteers must download the Counting Us mobile app and complete (or update) their app registration, ensuring the correct region is selected.
Volunteer Registration:
- Volunteer registration is not yet open. Volunteers may create or update their registration status once it becomes available.
- Eligible Participants: Those who completed all voltuneer requirements will receive an email confirming their eligibility no later than Monday, February 16, 2026. Additional details (e.g., team assignments and region details) will follow later that week.
- Ineligible Participants: Those who missed any step (training or registration) will receive an email notifying them of ineligibility on 01/21/2025.
Counting Us Mobile App:
The Counting Us mobile app is the software used to efficiently collect data for the Point-in-Time Count
- Download through Google Play
- Download through Apple Store
- As/after you've completed training and volunteer registration, you can then complete or update registration on the Counting Us mobile app. More information on this process is provided in the mandatory PIT Count training.
T-Shirts & Team Assignments
PIT Count T-Shirts:
- Note: Only volunteers that complete all requirements are eligible to receive a new PIT Count t-shirt as a symbol of support.
- T-Shirt Coordination: We ask that each agency identify one staff member to collect t-shirts on behalf of their assigned volunteers.
- T-Shirt Distribution: February 17 - 18, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Location: CFTH Office | 2000 Crawford Street, 15th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Team & Region Assignments:
To be assigned. Be on the lookout for more information in your inbox.
