Everyone Counts, No Matter Where They Live

Each year, during the early morning hours of one day in January, teams comprising Housing & Neighborhood Preservation staff and volunteers canvass Virginia Beach in search of individuals who are living unsheltered — on the street, in encampments or cars. The teams walk along the Boardwalk, trek through woods and drive around parking lots. When homeless individuals are found, they’re offered an opportunity to connect with the service system, complete a survey and receive resources, such as hygiene items. 

This effort is part of the street count of the homeless population, known as the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. It’s called Point-in-Time because it provides a snapshot of how many individuals were sheltered and unsheltered during a 24-hour period.  

Why is the PIT Count important? 

A Federal Requirement
Each year, federal and state funds are awarded to local government and nonprofit service providers who are part of the Virginia Beach Continuum of Care (CoC) through a competitive grant application process. A CoC is a coordinated communitywide approach to preventing and ending homelessness as a system. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires all CoCs that receive federal funding to conduct an unduplicated count of its homeless population.  

Measures Our Progress
Families and individuals experience housing crises and move in and out of homelessness on an ongoing basis for many different reasons. This means the number of individuals experiencing homelessness can fluctuate throughout the year. Even so, the PIT Count is a reliable way for communities to measure the scope of homelessness. And, by comparing previous counts, it’s also a key indicator of a community’s progress.  

In 2025, 327 sheltered and unsheltered individuals were counted in Virginia Beach, which is a slight increase from 2024. By comparison, the total in 2025 is 16% lower than 10 years ago, when 389 individuals were counted.  

Demographic information and other data collected during the PIT Count are also important to understanding trends and identifying opportunities to better address needs. For example, while the overall total of homeless individuals increased slightly from the previous year, the number of unsheltered individuals decreased by 34%, from 83 to 55. Part of this can be attributed to the Housing Resource Center single shelter expansion from 55 to 88 beds, which the City Council approved in the FY24 budget.  

How can you help? 

The City needs public input and volunteers, as we prepare for the next PIT Count, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29. 

Provide Input on Locations for the Street Count 
The public can assist Housing & Neighborhood Preservation in identifying locations throughout the city where they have observed individuals living without shelter using an online map tool at SpeakUpVB.com. For the privacy and security of individuals experiencing homelessness, we’re asking for visual observations only and comments submitted through the tool will be private. 

The City has a Homeless Outreach Team that finds and engages unsheltered individuals. Team members meet them where they are to assess their needs and offer connections to the service system for available shelter and housing.  

“This tool enhances our efforts for the Point-in-Time Count to help ensure we’re as thorough as possible and that all unsheltered individuals have the opportunity to be included and connect with services,” said Pam Shine, Homeless Services administrator. “One time, we were able to find an individual who had been homeless for a year with the help of public input. He was connected to shelter and services at the Housing Resource Center and eventually moved into his own apartment. This effort demonstrates the value of our community working as one to prevent and end homelessness in Virginia Beach.”

Signs that someone may be living unsheltered at a particular location include personal belongings left behind, a structure resembling a bed is present, or the individual has been seen there on multiple occasions. Panhandling is not a definitive sign of unsheltered homelessness. 

Locations can be submitted using the online map tool from a mobile device or computer through Nov. 30. Locations that have been confirmed by the Homeless Outreach Team will be added to routes for the street count.  

For more information about providing locations for the Homeless Outreach Team, call 757-385-5165. 

Volunteer to Help Count and Survey Individuals 
The department is also seeking volunteers to assist with the street count portion of PIT, 3:30-7 a.m. on Jan. 29. Volunteers will join staff in finding unsheltered individuals, administering the survey and distributing resources. PIT volunteers must be at least 18 years old and attend training. For a list of frequently asked questions about volunteering, or to register to help, visit  VirginiaBeach.gov/PITVolunteer. Volunteer registration closes Dec. 19. 

For more ways to give help and join the community effort on making homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring in Virginia Beach, visit BEACHCommunityPartnership.org.  

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