Point-in-Time Count
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Staff and volunteers from local homeless shelters and community organizations will be conducting a biannual count of unsheltered individuals in Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson counties starting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Known nationally as the Point-In-Time homeless count, the activity is intended to provide a statistically reliable, unduplicated count of people experiencing homelessness during a designated period twice each year. The data collected during the count is included in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) that is provided to Congress. Homeless information is also reported to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care.
Representatives from Western Dairyland, Hope Gospel Mission, Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley, Catholic Charities, and Bolton Refuge House will be joined by dozens of community members when they begin canvassing at 11 pm on January 28. They will be looking for anyone who is unsheltered, providing outreach and assistance, and obtaining information necessary for the count.
After the initial overnight count, a post-count survey will continue until February 4th. Official numbers will be verified in late February.
Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact WDEOC at 715-836-7511 or email robin.adams@wdeoc.org.
Previous PIT Counts
| Date | Total |
|---|---|
| January 2023 | 30 |
| July 2023 | 44 |
| January 2024 | 52 |
| July 2024 | 104 |
| January 2025 | 34 |
| July 2025 | 44 |
Note: these totals exclude individuals who were observed but did not provide enough information to be counted. Also excluded are individuals staying in local homeless shelters and transitional units. Totals may be influenced by several factors, including weather and the number of available volunteers.