Compassion to Commitment: Participate in the PIT Count

The last week of January is chilly, even in San Diego. It may even be rainy and windy. Darkness only increases a sense of vulnerability, especially for those without permanent shelter.

On January 29, 2026, in San Diego County, volunteers will participate in the Point in Time (PIT) Count, an annual survey of our neighbors who are currently experiencing homelessness. The PIT Count collects data on people residing in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s words, “public places not meant for human habitation” – such as parks, cars, parking lots, and abandoned buildings.

This work aligns deeply with the mission of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, which calls us to follow Jesus by practicing courageous love in our communities. Congregations across the diocese are learning, collaborating, and taking faithful action to address housing instability in their neighborhoods. From parish-led outreach teams to advocacy for affordable housing, our diocesan efforts echo the core belief that every person is made in the image of God and deserves safety, dignity, and a place to belong. The PIT Count is one way we can live out that commitment—standing alongside our neighbors, listening carefully to their stories, and helping ensure our region has the information necessary to respond with compassion and justice.

On the morning of the PIT count, volunteers work in teams to locate and assess individuals they meet in each area. Using a mobile app, they’ll ask folks to provide valuable information to give a sense of the number of people experiencing homelessness as well as their ages, income levels, and other categories (for example, military status). This type of data is reported to local, state, and federal organizations to help allocate resources and develop strategies for addressing and alleviating homelessness.

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness administers and reports on the results of San Diego County’s PIT Count. However, this data is not an accurate measure of a community’s unsheltered population over time, offering only a “snapshot” of homelessness in a given area on a given night. Volunteers are unable to count folks they can’t see, and increasing community efforts at criminalization (via fines and tickets) of unsheltered individuals require them to be as invisible as possible. And the PIT Count can’t include people living in unsafe or unstable situations with family or friends (for example, “couch surfing” or staying in unheated garages), in hospitals, or in jail.

Our faith teaches us to stand with those on the margins, our siblings in Christ whom the rest of society pushes away. Isaiah 58:7 tells of our duty to “share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.” Jesus reminds us repeatedly that the kingdom of God is one of inclusion, grace, and sanctuary for all.

I encourage everyone to participate in their region’s annual Point In Time Count as a crucial step in gathering needed data on homelessness. You can volunteer using this link from the Regional Task Force for Homelessness. And stay engaged with your local community’s efforts to provide safe, affordable housing, because everyone needs a place to call home.