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Continuum of Care officials tell Pittsfield advisory committee storm delayed Point‑in‑Time count results
Summary
Officials from the Three County Continuum of Care told the Pittsfield Homeless Advisory Committee that final Point‑in‑Time Count numbers were delayed by a regional storm; they said the survey added questions this year on hotel stays and couch surfing and discussed using a backup date to reduce weather impacts.
Michele LaFleur, data and evaluation manager for the Three County Continuum of Care, reviewed the group’s Annual Point‑in‑Time (PIT) Count at the Pittsfield City Homeless Advisory Committee’s April 1 meeting. Natalie Burtzos, the Continuum’s compliance manager, said staff would circulate a fuller report once final numbers were available.
LaFleur summarized the count methodology changes: the survey this year included additional questions to capture people who obtained hotel or motel rooms on their own and those couch surfing, efforts the presenters said aim to produce a more accurate count of people experiencing homelessness. Burtzos told the committee that a regional storm affected participation and that final, validated totals were not yet ready; she said the Continuum expects to deliver complete figures by the end of the week.
Committee members and presenters discussed options to reduce weather‑related disruption. LaFleur and Burtzos said they are considering setting a second, backup date for future counts and noted that the Summer Annual Point‑in‑Time Count has more flexibility to edit the survey, which may help capture populations missed during inclement weather.
Why it matters: PIT counts are used by regional providers and funders to estimate service needs and to allocate certain state and federal homeless‑assistance resources. Changes to survey questions and counting procedures can affect year‑to‑year comparisons and planning decisions.
What’s next: Burtzos said she will distribute a more complete report with validated totals to the committee once the regional data are finalized. The committee did not take any formal action on the count at the April 1 meeting.
