PIT-News-Release-1-17-18-for-HALS - News Release

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

News Release Contact Greta E. Rolland (Homeless Alliance of the Lower Shore) announces the January 24, 2018 Point in Time (PIT) count for sheltered and unsheltered homelessness across Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties in Maryland. The release explains HUD’s requirement to count people living in unsheltered locations and those in emergency, cold weather, transitional shelters, and certain motel or hotel settings funded by other agencies or churches. It describes volunteer canvassing, survey locations, and previous impacts of the annual count on services and housing resources.

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CategoryHealthcare

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Pages2

Reading Time5 min

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REGIONAL HOMELESS POPULATION TO BE COUNTED ON JANUARY 24TH

PIT count purpose and HUD requirements

Volunteer canvassing and survey locations

Local impact and contact information

News Release Contact: Greta E. Rolland January 17, 2018 [gretarolland@aol.com](gretarolland@aol.com) 443-880-0794 Homeless Alliance of the Lower Shore SOMERSET WICOMICO WORCESTER REGIONAL HOMELESS POPULATION TO BE COUNTED ON JANUARY 24TH Westover, MD-On Wednesday, January 24, 2018 the Homeless Alliance for the Lower Shore (HALS) Continuum of Care (CoC) Committee will conduct the annual one-day Point in Time (PIT) count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. HUD requires Continuum of Care Committees to conduct a count of people experiencing homelessness living in unsheltered locations (cars, outdoors, abandoned building & places not meant for human habitation) as well as people residing in sheltered locations such as emergency, cold weather and transitional shelters or motels/hotels paid for by another agency or church. Volunteers will be canvassing locations where people who are unsheltered may be located on January 24, 2018 as well as conducting service based counts of people who are experiencing homelessness during the week. Each area Health Department (Worcester – Snow Hill, Berlin & Pocomoke sites, Somerset – Westover and Wicomico – E. Main Street) as well as the local Department of Social Services will be conducting surveys. Other survey locations are listed below: 􀁸 Somerset-Seton Center in Princess Anne, Somerset Recovery & Re-Entry Center, 11674 Somerset Avenue, Princess Anne 􀁸 Worcester-WACS Center & Diakonia Shelter in West Ocean City, Samaritan Shelter, Maryland Access Point and Center for Clean Start 􀁸 Salisbury/Wicomico – Joseph House, Wicomico Library, Lower Shore Friends and HALO. The HALS CoC has conducted these required counts since 2001. Since that first count, the data collected has helped increase services to meet services gaps for people and families experiencing homelessness in the tri-county area. Permanent supportive housing units have been increased for individuals and families facing homelessness; shelter beds have been greatly increased to address the growing need for homeless services; and rapid rehousing and prevention grants have been awarded to each county. Additionally, data has assisted in bringing homeless services specific to Veterans to the tricounty area, including permanent support housing units as well as Supportive Services for Veteran Families Programs. This count will help the HALS CoC continue to bring additional funds for homeless services and more affordable housing to the tri-county area. -more- In the most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report our area experienced a 17% increase in the number of people served in shelters. In 2016, the shelters housed 963 individuals. That number rose to 1,162 in 2017, an increase of 244 people who experienced homelessness. For survey locations in each county, call 443-523-1815 for Somerset, 443-944-6894 for Worcester and 410-334-3031 for Wicomico. For more information on Homeless Alliance for the Lower Shore Continuum of Care, go to [http://somersethealth.org/HALS/HALhome.html](http://somersethealth.org/HALS/HALhome.html) \#\#\#

FAQs

What is the Point in Time (PIT) count announced in the release?

It is an annual one-day count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families conducted across Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties on January 24, 2018.

Who requires the Continuum of Care committee to conduct the count?

HUD requires Continuum of Care committees to conduct the count of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered locations and those in certain sheltered settings.

Where will surveys and service-based counts take place?

Surveys are conducted by area Health Departments and local Department of Social Services, with additional listed locations including Somerset-Seton Center, WACS Center & Diakonia Shelter, and Salisbury/Wicomico sites such as Joseph House and Wicomico Library.

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore