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Dothan proclaims Jan. 25 Point‑in‑Time Count Day, urges volunteers amid severe winter weather
Summary
Mayor Mark Slabaugh proclaimed Jan. 25, 2025, as Point‑in‑Time Count Day in Dothan, calling on local agencies and volunteers to assist the annual HUD-required homeless count as the city responds to an extreme winter storm.
Mayor Mark Slabaugh proclaimed Jan. 25, 2025, as Point‑in‑Time (PIT) Count Day for the city of Dothan, saying the annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides data used to allocate federal resources.
The proclamation, read during the commission meeting, said local organizations including Dothan Housing, the Southeast Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (SEACH) and the local Continuum of Care will lead the effort. Slabaugh told commissioners the city and partner agencies have expanded this year’s footprint and organized teams across the five Wiregrass counties to reach people who are hardest to count.
"We need this count because, you know, quite frankly, federal resources will flow from knowing how many people are needing help," Slabaugh said. He described the PIT count as both a federal reporting requirement and a local opportunity to better understand and address homelessness.
Kelly, identified in the meeting as the CEO of the housing authority, said the housing authority is leading coordination for the expanded count this year and thanked local partners and volunteers. Shelter operations and warming centers are already active during the cold spell: a speaker identified as Kylie said, "Last night, First Baptist Church, we had 57 folks, for shelter," and noted other shelters and local agencies were providing space and food.
Mayor Slabaugh and other officials emphasized that severe winter weather increased the urgency of outreach during the count and thanked volunteers and community groups for support. The proclamation called on citizens to support the initiative through volunteer participation and increased awareness of homelessness in Dothan.
The commission discussed the PIT count in the context of an ongoing winter storm and the city’s activation of warming centers. City staff and local shelters described a multi-agency response to provide shelter and meals while volunteers prepare to complete the HUD-required count on Jan. 25, 2025.
The proclamation and speakers at the meeting made no changes to city policy; it was an official call for participation and coordination among local agencies and volunteers.
