Tracking homelessness across Cape Fear: Annual PIT Count

CAPE FEAR, NC (WWAY) — Over the next few days, the Cape Fear Homeless Continuum of Care (CFCOC) will be gathering data on the unhoused population across Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties. On Wednesday, the count took place in New Hanover County.

The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an annual effort led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides a critical snapshot of homelessness across the country.

Tony Perez, Director of the Living Hope Day Center, explains that while the count may not give a precise figure, it still provides valuable insight into local trends. “It’s just representative of a number, and it helps us watch trends over time. It gives us a general sense of what’s happening in our area,” Perez says. “But without a solid count, it’s hard to predict the funding needed for our community’s needs.”

Perez anticipates a rise in the number of unhoused individuals in the region. “I don’t expect a dramatic drop or a huge increase, but we’ll definitely see an increase in the number of unhoused people in our community,” he shares.

Montey Suggs, a volunteer who participated in the count in New Hanover County and works with the State’s Department of Commerce, highlights the diversity of the individuals he encountered. “We came in contact with some very educated people who had fallen on hard times, as well as people who had been homeless for years. Some had been without housing for just a few days, others for much longer,” Suggs says.

The PIT Count also involves asking participants a series of questions to better understand their circumstances. After gathering responses, volunteers come together to discuss the data and identify available resources. “Now we can pinpoint the problems people are facing and look at the resources available to them. From there, we work to connect individuals with the help they need,” Suggs explains.

The count continues in Pender County, with final results expected a few months from now.