Opening Doors Northwest Florida and Escambia County are seeking volunteers to participate in the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, an annual event that collects valuable information to help individuals experiencing homelessness in the community.
The annual Point-in-Time Count is a nationwide count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. Data for the PIT count is submitted each year to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.
Through the Point-in-Time Count, volunteers help collect information about those experiencing homelessness, which helps direct resources and services to those in need. The PIT Count helps create a clearer picture of homelessness, which helps local organizations identify trends and changes in homelessness, advocate for additional resources and support, and improve local programs and services.
The Point-in-Time Count will take place Tuesday, Jan. 27 through Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Interested volunteers are invited to attend one of the following training sessions:
Volunteer registration is available here.
Volunteers can also participate by spreading the word and donating basic need items for care bags. Most-needed care bag items include rain ponchos, emergency blankets, hand warmers, hats and gloves, snacks (canned or wrapped, easy to chew), and hygiene items (Band-Aids, lip balm, toothpaste, toothbrushes - no hand sanitizer).
Donations can also be dropped off at the following locations:
Community Centers:
Libraries:
Other Locations:
The community is also invited to the 2026 I-Count Homeless Connect Event on Thursday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center, located at 3200 W. De Soto St. This free, one-day, one-stop shop will provide services to people experiencing homelessness in the Escambia County community.
For more information, visit openingdoorsnwfl.org or contact Opening Doors Northwest Florida at [email protected].
The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.
Under Florida law, IP addresses and both the content of emails and email addresses are public records. If you do not want your IP address and the content of your email or your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in person.