CSBG DCL HUD Count of the Homeless

Publication Date: December 8, 2015
Current as of:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services
Division of State Assistance
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/csbg

Community Services Block Grant
Dear Colleague Letter

Re: HUD Count of the Homeless

Date: December 8, 2015

Dear Colleagues,

In an effort to better understand the homeless population, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires its Continuums of Care (CoCs) across the country to count their inventory of homeless beds and units (i.e., the Housing Inventory Count or HIC) and sheltered homeless persons each year.  A CoC is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.  HUD requires CoCs to count unsheltered homeless persons every other year (also referred to as, Point-in-Time — PIT).  In 2016, most CoCs in local communities across the country will be conducting a Point-in-Time count of unsheltered persons.  The data gleaned from this counting process will be used to identify service gaps and homeless trends at both the local and national level.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) grantees and eligible entities often serve as part of the critical infrastructure for many communities across the country, especially rural communities, to provide essential services to the homeless.  Thus, the Office of Community Services (OCS) believes that CSBG grantees and eligible entities might serve as a strong collaborative partner in the HUD homelessness count effort.  We encourage you to contact your local CoC to see how you can help them identify an often under-counted and subsequently under-resourced population.

To find the primary contact for the CoC in your area, please refer to the “About Grantees” page on the HUD Exchange: https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/ .

To get information on HUD’s Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time count data collection guidance, and historical national and community data, please refer to HUD’s PIT count and HIC page: https://www.hudexchange.info/hdx/guides/pit-hic .

We appreciate your hard work and dedication to community services and activities to support homeless individuals and families.  Thank you for your continued partnership and cooperation in promoting the economic and social well-being of America’s families, children, individuals and communities.

Sincerely,

Jeannie L. Chaffin                                                                             Seth Hassett
Director                                                                                             Director, Division of State Assistance
Office of Community Services                                                           Office of Community Services