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. Through this effort, communities make sure people experiencing homelessness are seen, heard, and counted with dignity.
That commitment continues through Project Homeless Connect. During the event, VOA Southeast’s Eagle’s Landing program joins community partners and volunteers to connect individuals with essential services at no cost. Together, these efforts move communities beyond numbers. They create 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. They do not look away from homelessness. Instead, they look more closely.
The Point-in-Time Count and Project Homeless Connect are more than coordinated efforts or annual events; they are moments when compassion turns into action and listening matters just as much as counting.
Across Alabama and Georgia, VOA Southeast teams once again joined local partners, volunteers, and service providers. Together, they helped ensure people experiencing homelessness were seen, heard, and supported.
Why the Point-in-Time Count Matters
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development leads the PIT Count nationally.
Each winter, the count provides a snapshot of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a single night. However, the count does more than collect numbers. It helps communities understand where people are sleeping, what challenges they face, and what support they need most.
For VOA Southeast, the PIT Count is not a standalone activity. Instead, it extends the work teams do every day.
Staff meet people where they are. They build trust. Most importantly, they make sure services are shaped by real experiences, not 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
Volunteers stand at the heart of Project Homeless Connect and the PIT Count.
Each year, community members from many backgrounds come together with a shared purpose. They give their time, skills, and compassion to neighbors who need support.
Because of their presence, these efforts become more than programs. They become 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 served people in Houston and Peach Counties, Georgia. Together, they connected with more than 80 individuals experiencing homelessness.
They also conducted surveys and helped connect people with resources to support their next steps.
How You Can Help
Homelessness is complex. Still, communities can make progress when they work together.
With the right support, people can find stability. With sustained action, communities can create lasting change.
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 one night or one interaction.
Instead, communities address homelessness through steady commitment, informed action, and lasting compassion.
Across Alabama and Georgia, VOA Southeast continues that work every day. Programs like Eagle’s Landing help build communities where people are counted, connected, and supported.
Together, these efforts help more individuals move toward a place they can call home.