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Hays County homeless coalition: PIT count shows more unsheltered residents; coalition asks county for consolidated funding plan
Summary
The Hays County Homeless Coalition presented its 2026 point‑in‑time count (94 unsheltered, 57 sheltered) and urged coordinated, sustainable county support and help applying for HUD funding; school McKinney‑Vento data show 238 homeless school‑age children in the county this year.
Nancy Hines, board member of the Hays County Homeless Coalition, presented the county’s 2026 point‑in‑time (PIT) count to the commissioners on April 16, reporting 94 unsheltered and 57 sheltered people counted on the HUD‑designated night (a total that uses a three‑year comparison for trend analysis).
Hines explained the PIT methodology and limitations: the count is a 24‑hour snapshot driven by trained volunteers using a mobile app (Counting Us) and includes both surveys and observations when residents decline to be interviewed. She emphasized the PIT’s value in directing HUD formula funding for permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing.
Lisa Young, co‑chair of the Homeless Coalition and executive director of the Hays County Food Bank, underlined complementary school data: the county’s McKinney‑Vento reports show 238 school‑age children experiencing homelessness during the school year, a figure that does not include infants or un‑enrolled youth. Young urged the court to pursue a consolidated, predictable funding approach so local organizations can apply for federal Emergency Solutions Grants and build sustainable programs rather than relying on one‑time assistance.
Several commissioners thanked coalition members and emphasized grant‑seeking and better data sharing. Commissioner Inglesby asked county grants staff to work with the coalition on potential state and federal funding opportunities; Commissioner Smith and others urged that nonprofit partners maintain robust outcome data to support longer‑term county investment. Coalition leaders asked for predictable county support and help coordinating joint grant applications.
The court did not vote to allocate funds on the day of the presentation. Coalition leaders said they would follow up with staff and welcome technical assistance to align local asks with federal grant cycles.
Key figures from the presentation: PIT count volunteers numbered about 70 this year; unsheltered count 94, sheltered 57; coalition reported increased reliance on observations in some areas and noted methodological caveats such as cold‑weather sheltering effects on year‑to‑year comparisons.
