Everybody Counts Charlotte: Volunteers and Donations Needed for 'Point-in-Time’ Count

Point in Time Count 2025

Preparations are underway for the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Mecklenburg County is seeking volunteers and other resources to help ensure everybody counts. In the early morning hours of Jan. 22, 2026, volunteers will span out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg to identify people who are living unsheltered.  

The Point-in-Time Count, coordinated nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is conducted each year across the United States to gather data on homelessness. It takes place on a single night in January each year and provides a snapshot of homelessness. The key objectives of the PIT Count are to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness and to understand their demographic characteristics and living situations. Another goal is to connect them to available resources.

Partnering to lead the 2026 Point-in-Time Count are the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care, led by Mecklenburg County Community Support Services’ Housing Innovation and Stabilization Services division, and the Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition.

How to Help

Residents can help by offering time, donating items, and raising awareness.

  • Volunteer Your Time: On Jan. 22, 2026, volunteers are needed to join outreach teams to complete surveys and provide supplies to people experiencing homelessness across Mecklenburg County. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can register online.
  • Donate Supplies: Support the 2026 PIT Count by donating essential items for people sleeping outside in our community. Check out the Amazon Wishlist for the most needed items or make a financial contribution to provide these supplies and $10 gift cards to our neighbors on the morning of the PIT. Residents can also make a financial contribution to Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition, the lead outreach organization in our community, for PIT County materials and gift cards.
  • Spread the Word: Use your voice to raise awareness and share this information with friends, family, and networks via social media using the #EverybodyCountsCLT hashtag. Stay informed and participate in community activities outlined on the 2026 PIT Activities Calendar. This year’s calendar will be available mid-December at the Point-in-Time Count page on the Housing and Homelessness Dashboard.

During last year’s Point-in-Time Count, 2,101 people were identified experiencing homelessness. Among them were 152 families with minor children, 76 unaccompanied youth (ages 18–24), and 444 people sleeping outside.

Since 2020, unsheltered homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg has doubled, highlighting the need for accurate data and responsive action. When combined with the One Number (the total number of actively homeless individuals in the community) and community data on system performance, the PIT Count provides Charlotte-Mecklenburg a way to look at progress in the work to end and prevent homelessness. Every volunteer, donor and partner plays a vital part in ensuring that everybody counts in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

To learn more about the state of housing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, visit the Housing and Homelessness Dashboard.