Virginia Beach Seeking Public’s Assistance in Identifying Locations Where Individuals are Living Unsheltered

Virginia Beach Housing & Neighborhood Preservation is asking for the public’s help in identifying locations throughout the city where they have observed individuals living without shelter. The information will help guide staff during the street count of the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of the homeless population.

An online map tool at www.SpeakUpVB.com can be used to submit locations from a mobile device or computer through Dec. 1. Location points should also include the date observed and additional details that will help describe the situation. The department is asking for visual observations only.

The City has a Homeless Outreach Team that finds and engages unsheltered individuals on an ongoing basis, assesses their needs and offers connections to the homeless service system for available shelter and housing. This online map tool is intended to enhance the team’s efforts for PIT and help ensure the count is as thorough as possible and that all unsheltered individuals have the opportunity to be included in the count and assessed for services.

As a recipient of federal funding for homelessness programs, Virginia Beach is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to conduct an unduplicated count of its homeless population. Demographic information and other data collected during the PIT Count are also important to understanding the scope of homelessness, revealing trends and identifying opportunities to better address the needs of the population.

To learn more about the PIT Count, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/PITCount. For assistance with the online tool, contact Stacey Leary, at 757-385-5161 or SLeary@VBgov.com. For more information about providing locations for the Homeless Outreach Team, call 757-385-5165.

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