The Point in Time Count, often called the PIT Count, is a community wide effort to better understand homelessness and housing insecurity in Cochrane.
It is essentially a snapshot of what homelessness looks like in our community at a specific point in time. And homelessness does not always mean sleeping outside. It can include staying in a shelter, sleeping in a vehicle, couch surfing, staying temporarily with friends or family because you have nowhere else to go, or living without a safe and stable place to call home.
The information collected through a short survey helps identify how many people are experiencing homelessness, the different circumstances they are facing, and what services and supports our community may need.
The Cochrane Food Bank is participating in the PIT Count in partnership with the Cochrane District Services Board. We will be welcoming people at the Cochrane Food Bank at 110 5th Avenue on Thursday, October 8 from 7 PM to 11 PM, and again Friday, October 9 from 6 AM to 8 AM.
Anyone who identifies as unhoused in any respect is encouraged to stop in. You can warm up, grab something to eat, and complete the survey in a safe and welcoming environment.
This is not about judging anyone or putting a label on anyone. It is about getting a clearer picture of what is actually happening in Cochrane so that community planning can be based on real local information.
Because when it comes to homelessness in our community, everyone counts.