‘Point in Time’ count of people experiencing homelessness in Gulfport

Members of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Continuum of Care, led by Open Doors Homeless Coalition, were out early this morning conducting their annual ‘point in time’ count of people experiencing homelessness.

The point in time is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.

Continuum of Care is required to conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe havens on a single night.

Continuum of Care also must conduct a count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness every other year. Open Doors Homeless Coalition Executive Director Mary Simons said, “We use this to compare last year to see if the numbers have changed, if the needs have changed. This is meant to be a snapshot to help us in our planning efforts and then create a targeted outreach list as we move forward through our work this year.”

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Continuum of Care is led by Open Doors and consists of more than 50 partner organizations that work together to prevent, reduce, and eventually eliminate homelessness.