2025 Point-in-Time Count and Project Homeless Connect
Each January, Volunteers of America Southeast teams across Alabama and Georgia take part in the Point-in-Time Count—an effort that ensures people experiencing homelessness are seen, heard, and counted with dignity. That commitment continues through Project Homeless Connect, where VOA Southeast’s Eagle’s Landing program joins community partners and volunteers to connect individuals to essential services, free of charge. Together, these efforts move communities beyond numbers toward meaningful connection, compassion, and lasting change.
Counting with Compassion, Connecting with Purpose
PIT Count & Project Homeless Connect Across Alabama and Georgia
Every January, communities across the country pause—not to look away from homelessness, but to look more closely. The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Project Homeless Connect are not just coordinated efforts or annual events. They are moments when compassion meets action, and when listening becomes just as important as counting.
Across Alabama and Georgia, VOA Southeast teams once again joined local partners, volunteers, and service providers to ensure that people experiencing homelessness were seen, heard, and supported.
Why the Point-in-Time Count Matters
The PIT Count, led nationally by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides a snapshot of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a single winter night. While the count itself is important, its deeper purpose is understanding—understanding where people are sleeping, what challenges they face, and what supports are most urgently needed.
For VOA Southeast, the PIT Count is not a standalone activity. It is an extension of daily work—meeting people where they are, building trust, and ensuring that services are grounded in real experiences rather than assumptions.
As Chad Cheshire, Director of Homelessness & Prevention Services at VOA Southeast, shares:
“The Point-in-Time Count is more than a snapshot in time, it is an opportunity to see, hear, and honor the lived experiences of people facing homelessness. By approaching this work with care and intention, we transform data into action, funding into support, and compassion into lives changed.”
From Counting to Connecting: Project Homeless Connect
While the PIT Count helps communities understand homelessness, Project Homeless Connect helps address it—immediately and compassionately.
Since 2014, HOPE for All Gulf Coast has partnered with local service providers, organizations, and community members to host Project Homeless Connect, a one-day event that brings critical services together in one accessible, welcoming space. VOA Southeast’s Eagle’s Landing program proudly participates in Project Homeless Connect, ensuring individuals experiencing homelessness are connected to resources, support, and pathways toward stability.
Project Homeless Connect offers individuals access to vital services at no cost, including:
- Healthcare and behavioral health services
- Legal assistance and help obtaining identification
- Housing and benefits navigation
- Veteran-specific resources
- Employment and education support
- Hygiene services, clothing, and essential supplies
To reduce barriers, free transportation is provided throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties, with multiple pickup locations and public transportation available within the City of Mobile.
The Power of Volunteers
At the heart of Project Homeless Connect—and the PIT Count—are volunteers.
Community members from all walks of life come together with a shared purpose: to give their time, skills, and compassion to neighbors who need support. Their presence transforms these efforts from programs into experiences rooted in dignity, respect, and hope.
As Chad notes:
“This work is driven by the commitment of our volunteers and staff, whose empathy and consistency create meaningful human connections that frequently serve as the foundation for lasting change.”
During the week of the count, VOA Southeast staff and volunteers in Houston and Peach Counties, Georgia, encountered more than 80 individuals experiencing homelessness, conducted surveys, and connected them with resources to support their path toward assistance.
How You Can Help
Homelessness is complex—but it is not unsolvable. Progress happens when communities act together.
You can be part of that work by:
- Volunteering with with Point-in-Time Count and/or Project Homeless Connect
- Donating to support housing stability and critical services
- Advocating for compassionate, community-based solutions
More Than an Event—A Commitment
The PIT Count and Project Homeless Connect remind us that homelessness is not defined by a single night or a single interaction. It is addressed through sustained commitment, informed action, and compassion that lasts long after the events conclude.
Across Alabama and Georgia, VOA Southeast—and programs like Eagle’s Landing—remain dedicated to building communities where everyone is counted, connected, and supported on the path to a place they can call home.