Overview: The Point in Time Count is an annual effort to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness across Knoxville-Knox County. This information is critical to understanding the experience of all neighbors across the community. We have adapted the PIT count survey to help fill in key gaps, so that community partners from across the region can better understand the local landscape of unsheltered homelessness.
See the reports from 2024, 2025, and 2026 (coming soon).
Each year a successful count requires extensive partner, volunteer, and community engagement. We had over 50 volunteers help support the 2026 Point in Time Count, with over 15 partner organizations represented. The local planning process is spearheaded by a Steering Committee with administrative and logistics support from the Office of Housing Stability.
Planning has started for the 2027 Point in Time Count. Reach out to join the steering committee, Arielle.benson@knoxtnhousing.org, or to be a part of the CoC- PIT planning group ongoing.
Donate to The Winter Survival Kit Drive, which runs November 1st – December 19th, 2026, and we are asking for many of the same supplies as last year.
We have 3 Drop-Off locations, available at various days and times.
Email or call for a special delivery time or pick-up: Arielle.benson@knoxtnhousing.org. Note Drop-Off will not be available Thanksgiving (11/26) or Good Friday (11/27).
*Consider donating needed items in bulk, or you can donate individually completed bags. The included supplies should fit neatly in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag.
*Each kit is distributed during the PIT count with a resource card including winter sheltering options.
Consider being a part of conducting the survey this January. Register early on our Volunteer East TN website. There are multiple shift options available, and there will be more opportunities posted throughout PIT week, January 21st – 27th, 2027.
After the count was concluded this January, we conducted a survey with volunteers. We wanted to know how to make the count more engaging and effective for them, and for participants.
We gained valuable insights that we will be bringing forth into the planning process for 2027, including:
HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Reports (accumulative national Point in Time Count and Housing Inventory Count data)
Point in Time Count methodology guide (HUD’s guide on how to conduct a successful count)