Lane County will not conduct its Point-in-Time Count (PIT) to track homelessness this year, as announced last week. The PIT count, initiated in 2005, includes an annual sheltered count and a biennial unsheltered count.
Due to technological advancements, the Lane County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and its By Name List now provide a more accurate way to monitor homelessness trends on a monthly and annual basis. Over 30 agencies contribute data to the HMIS daily, according to county officials.
Since 2021, the OR-500 CoC has relied on a modified version of the HMIS for counting. A limited “street count” has been conducted in targeted areas by trained outreach workers under HUD’s authorization. Previous counts have added fewer than 130 individuals to the primary HMIS count.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires unsheltered PIT counts every two years, but since Lane County completed one in 2025, a count is not required in 2026. However, the county will submit the required sheltered count based on HMIS data. An unsheltered PIT count is anticipated in 2027. For more information on shelter beds and local programs, visit the Homeless Response System Inventory Tableau pages.
