Volunteers hold PIT Count to track homelessness as winter storm approaches

CHARLOTTE — Volunteers walked the streets early Thursday morning to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in Charlotte.

This year’s count is especially important with a winter storm moving into the region Saturday.

The annual Point-in-Time Count aims to get an estimate on the number of people experiencing homelessness and understand their demographics. Staff and volunteers with local nonprofit organizations will also be connecting those people to resources.

“With the cold weather coming in, and the Point-in-Time County happening right now, it’s going to give us an opportunity to let our neighbors who are outside know what’s coming,” Executive Director of Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition and co-leader of the count Jessica Lefkowitz said. “A lot of folks don’t have access to the news and may not know that we have severe weather coming on Saturday.”

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Channel 9’s Eli Brand followed one team led by Kiauntay Craig. It’s her second year working the Point-in-Time Count. She worked all night Wednesday and returned to lead her crew at 5 a.m. Thursday.

“Looking at humanity and just seeing people for who they are,” she said. “We’re just letting people know that the overflow shelters are open for extreme, severe weather. Both men and women and families, we’re just trying to make sure everyone has that information.”

Multiple shelters will be open for people that need them to stay safe from winter weather. Warming shelters are opening up around Charlotte as temperatures drop.

Roof Above on Statesville Avenue is open to men, and the Salvation Army on Spratt Street is open to women and children.

The Point-in-Time Count is required to receive federal funding for homelessness assistance.

“It helps us collect data that helps us to make sure we have the right programming to support what they need,” Lefkowitz explained.

In 2025, there were just over 2,100 people experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County. Just over 1,600 of those people were in emergency shelters and transitional housing. Just under 450 people were unsheltered.

Lefkowitz expects that number to be higher this year.

“The problem is growing, and I think that has a lot to do with us not having enough affordable units and people not having enough access to mental health support,” Lefkowitz said.

As for the crews in the field, they say the cold and the walking doesn’t bother them; they just want to make sure the work gets done.

“Don’t just assume what people are going through or what they’ve gone through,” Craig said. “Ask questions. They’re people. Talk to them.”

VIDEO: More people are experiencing homelessness this year, PIT Count shows