What You Need to Know about HUD’s Bi-annual PIT Count and Michigan’s HMIS Counts:
The Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) and other researchers often use data generated through HUD’s
bi-annual Point in Time Count of the homeless for articles on homeless trends. Michigan also publishes data
based on the Statewide HMIS Project. While the two data sets do overlap, they are not the same. The following
short article describes the differences between the two processes that will help you respond to questions from
leadership regarding other publications. The grayed sections below provide the basics. Additional information is
also provided so that you can respond to follow-up questions.
1. ICH Study data is based on a snapshot of those that are literally homeless on one night in the last week
of January every other year. This is called HUD’s Bi-Annual PIT (Point in Time) Count.
2. The PIT snapshot includes a street count and a shelter count. The PIT Count can be considered a count
of everyone that is literally homeless – in shelter or on the street - on one night in January. HMIS data
from participating agencies is used for the sheltered side of the count, but CoCs use a variety of
strategies to complete the street count, including statistical formulas and sampling for very large
communities like Detroit. Historically, some variation has occurred in these strategies as CoCs have
improved their processes. Comparisons over long periods of time may not be appropriate for this
reason. That is, ICH, HUD or other Federal agency sometimes publish trending information about
Michigan including sample points where there have been significant changes in the collection strategies.
This occurred in the recent Think Progress article that reported a 59% decline in homelessness partially
resulting from a year in which Detroit used a statistical process that they later abandoned.
3. HUD’s PIT Count is different than Michigan’s Annual Homeless Summary Report in the following ways:
 Michigan’s Annual Homeless Summary Report is based on those identified as homeless reported
from nearly 600 homeless services agencies over the course of a calendar year – not a single
night.
 The PIT Count predates the HMIS and was developed as a means to estimate the homeless in
the US. HUD has maintained the PIT process even though most communities now have an HMIS
because not all those on the street reach out to homeless providers and in many places there is
no funding for routine street outreach. In Michigan we do have funded street outreach
reporting to the HMIS through the PATH Program, however we continue to use the PIT to help
identify those we may have missed such as those served in DV programs. We use the “missed”
rate from the PIT to help estimate the total projected homeless count published in Michigan’s
Annual Report.
 While the MI Annual Summary Report includes data on the “literally homeless,” those
individuals included under HUD Category 2 Homeless (those within 14 days of eviction with
written documentation) are also included in the overall State count to support rural counties
that have very limited shelter capacity.
 The Homeless Count generated through the HMIS in MI has been very stable over time and
generally aligns with national trends on HUD’s National Annual Homeless Assessment Report
(AHAR) that goes to Congress. The AHAR uses the gold standard of HMIS data from all over the
Nation. In 2013, 100% of Michigan’s CoCs had HMIS data of sufficient quality to be included in
the AHAR.
4. Because the HMIS has continuous person level data, there are other counts routinely generated from
the HMIS for specific purposes that are also different from HUD’s PIT.
 Quarterly Reports on those seeking services through the “front door” of the homeless
emergency services system (Shelters, Street Outreach, and HARAs) are published. These are
also snap shots of the total count and are used to support needs assessment by county for sub
populations.
 Annualized Counts that are completed for time periods other than the Calendar Year. These are
usually done to allow for an annual count that is more current to the time of the data request or
aligns with a grant year.
 Cross Section counts that explain specific characteristics of the homeless such as chapters on
Veterans or Youth.
 Outcome Performance Reports that measure the success of Michigan’s provider networks in
housing homeless persons.
5. Some “known” challenges in street counts that occur in Michigan:
 Detroit has an unusually large inventory of abandoned buildings. This makes it especially
difficult to find the homeless and to actually estimate the size of the street population.
Leadership in Detroit have worked hard to find an appropriate estimation method.
 The Balance of State (BOS) CoC is a geographically large area with a fairly high population. It is
currently divided into 40 communities. Each community manages the local count. Sustaining
standardized processes and energy from year to year is a challenge in so many places.
Variations are usually much smaller, but like Detroit, the BOS has had to work hard to insure
that the education is consistent and that local numerators are adequately trained.