Measure Description

The Point-in-Time (PIT) count serves as a snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in late January. The count is conducted by outreach volunteers with the Palm Beach County Department of Human Services on a biennial basis. Starting in 2017, the PIT Count in Palm Beach County will be done annually. Methodology on how the count is conducted is prescribed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development with supplements from the local Homeless Continuum of Care.

Measure Importance

When a PIT count shows an upward trend over more than two periods, it enables local administrators and homeless providers to justify additional resources and changes in HUD funding strategies to help reduce the number of homeless. A decreasing trend could provide justification that local strategies are working and should be continued.

Measure Chart

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Explanation of Performance

The last PIT Count was held in January of 2017 and showed an increased number of homeless within West Palm Beach and in Palm Beach County compared to the 2015 PIT count. In 2017, 498 homeless were counted in West Palm Beach, compared to 332 in 2015. A significant change in the methodology partially accounted for the increase. A better comparison will be the 2018 count with the 2017 count.  The City has implemented several strategies over the past 18 months to help combat homelessness including resources for a homeless prevention rental assistance program, funding for a Peer Outreach Team through The Lord's Place, funding for new affordable housing units and increased collaboration with external partners such as the County and Homeless Continuum of Care providers. In 2017, more than 75 individuals or households received either direct housing placement or relocation assistance through City of West Palm Beach programs that eliminated or prevented homelessness. In 2018, the City budgeted funding for a youth homeless prevention program and is negotiating with Palm Beach County to add additional bed capacity to the Homeless Resource Center. Several dozen units of supportive affordable housing are also scheduled to begin construction in early 2018.

Status Indicator Definitions
On Target: Meets or exceeds expected performance
Watch: Falls close to expected performance
Below Target: Does not meet expectation; being monitored for improvement
Other Data: Data gathering only, no target