In the early morning hours of January 22, 2026, volunteers will fan out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg with one shared purpose: to make sure everybody counts. Preparations are now underway for the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, a community-wide effort to identify people living without stable housing and to better understand the reality of homelessness in our region. 

The Point-in-Time Count isn’t just about collecting numbers. It’s an effort coordinated nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which helps us understand who is experiencing homelessness, where people are staying, and so much more. That is our topic today: Homelessness By The Numbers – Why Counting Matters. 

Guests –

• Karen Pelletier, Division Director, Housing Innovation and Stabilization Services 
• Mary Ann Priester, Senior management analyst, leading the Point in Time Count 
• Branden Lewis, Management analyst, co-leading the Point in Time Count 
• Jessica Lefkowitz, Founder and Executive Director, Hearts for the Invisible 

Information –

To volunteer, visit Mecklenburg Housing Data