2026 PIT Count: Turning Data Into Action
This January, MACV partnered with the VA and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to complete the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a nationwide, required effort to measure homelessness on a single night. The PIT Count captures how many people are staying in shelters and how many are unsheltered. It’s a snapshot, but it plays an important role in shaping federal funding and understanding national trends.
At MACV, our approach is grounded in data. The PIT Count helps identify shifts in homelessness, highlights gaps in resources, and informs how funding is allocated. But we also know its limitations. A single night in January cannot fully capture Veterans who are doubled up, temporarily staying in institutions, or navigating homelessness in rural areas. That’s why in Minnesota we pair the PIT Count with the Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry, a continuously updated, by-name list that gives us a real-time understanding of who is experiencing homelessness and allows for coordinated, faster housing responses.
This year, our PIT efforts looked different. Instead of a large volunteer street outreach operation like we’ve done in the past, we operated a focused call center in partnership with the VA and MDVA. Using cross-referenced data from the Registry and HMIS, we proactively contacted Veterans identified as unsheltered and ensured anyone reaching out that night was connected to services. The shift reflected both safety considerations and our commitment to being strategic with our outreach.
The goal is never just to count Veterans. It’s to use data to drive action. The PIT Count is one piece of a larger, coordinated, data-driven system working every day to ensure Veterans in Minnesota are identified, connected, and housed.