As the city gears up for the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, Mecklenburg County is calling for volunteers and donations to help perform a comprehensive count of individuals experiencing homelessness. According to a recent release by MeckNC news, the annual count—taking place on January 22, 2026—is a crucial effort to gather accurate data and to assist those in need of housing resources. The entire count is conducted in a single night and aims to garner an understanding of the number of residents without shelter, their demographic characteristics, and connect them to vital services.
Partnering to lead this year's count are the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care and the Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition. In an action led by Mecklenburg County Community Support Services' Housing Innovation and Stabilization Services division, all hands are needed on deck early morning as they span out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg identifying those living unsheltered.
The call to action for community members is clear—volunteers are vital to the count's success. Residents can pledge their time by helping outreach teams survey and distribute supplies across the county. Those interested in volunteering can sign up through an online registration process. Beyond time, there is a need for material donations such as essential items and financial contributions, which can be made by browsing the Amazon Wishlist or donating directly to the Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition, as detailed in MeckNC's announcement.
Last year's Point-in-Time Count identified 2,101 people as experiencing homelessness, which included 152 families with minor children and 76 unaccompanied youth aged between 18 and 24. Notably, 444 individuals were found sleeping outside, marking a significant issue that the count helps to illuminate. Since 2020, there has been a disheartening uptick in unsheltered homelessness; it has doubled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, an indication of the struggle that even more residents are facing today in finding a place to call home.
The PIT Count not only aims to provide a snapshot of the homelessness in the region on a given night but also helps to evaluate the effectiveness of current housing and support strategies. This data, in conjunction with the One Number—which represents the total count of actively homeless individuals in the community—paints a revealing picture of the strength and gaps within Charlotte-Mecklenburg's efforts to end and prevent homelessness. According to the PIT Activities Calendar set to be released mid-December, engaging the public through social media and sharing #EverybodyCountsCLT information is one way everyone can help, as stated in MeckNC's release. Those looking to learn more about the state of housing in the area can visit the Housing and Homelessness Dashboard for ongoing updates and resources.
