Summer Point In Time (PIT) Count
This page was last updated 10/20/26.
Summer 2026 Results
On July 26th, 2026, there were at least 112 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire Counties. Click on the PDF below to check out our full report.
County & Municipality Unsheltered Breakdown
Berkshire County
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Adams: 1
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North Adams: 4
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Pittsfield: 27
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Unspecified: 4
Franklin County
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Greenfield: 31
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Sunderland: 2
Hampshire County
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Amherst: 7
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Northampton: 12
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Unspecified: 14
Huge thanks to the following organizations for completing & submitting surveys:
Important note: the PIT count does not fully capture everyone experiencing homelessness in our community; it is a snapshot of a single point in time. The numbers we present are based on surveys collected for one night of the year. We are so grateful for all the staff, volunteers, and people with lived experience who assisted us this summer in surveying folks! If you are interested in assisting with our January 2027 PIT Count, please reach out to nburtzos@communityaction.us and ecoles@communityaction.us
In tandem with the PIT count, CoC staff and the PLE Action Board held their 3rd annual Summer Cooling Kit collection drive. The purpose of this collection drive was to gather essential items for our unhoused community members, to ensure safety and comfort during the summer heat. We would like to thank the following for their donations:
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Community members
From these local organizations, as well as our four in person collection drives and online registry, some of the donated items included:
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T-shirts
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Shorts
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Sneakers
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Bombas socks
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Shampoo and conditioner
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Soap
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Body wipes
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Sunscreen
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Toothbrush kits
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Tents
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Tarps
We distributed over 100 cooling kits with items—identified by our PLE Action Board and YAB—such as Mylar rain ponchos, umbrellas, sunscreen, electrolyte packets, water bottles, hygiene products, and bug spray. We were also able to distribute some tents, backpacks, clothes, and solar chargers. Through meetings, tabling, packing, and conducting surveys, PLE spent 89.5 hours on the cooling kits and PIT count.
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Upcoming Summer PIT Count: Week of July 26, 2026
We are seeking community partners and volunteers to help us carry out our summer Point in Time Count surveys. This page includes resources and information for both our returning community partners and prospective volunteers.
Page Navigation
PIT Count Documents
Community members can print and complete PIT Count Surveys with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Completed surveys can be returned to the CoC according to directions on the bottom of each document.
Survey Forms -
Please email ecoles@communityaction.us if you plan to submit multiple surveys and would prefer an Excel template for data
Who can survey in the PIT Count?
Our Continuum of Care (CoC) heavily relies on service providers to survey people who may have been unsheltered each PIT Count. However, we are always looking for volunteers and more organizations to participate!
Every community in the U.S. conducts a PIT Count each January. Community members and partners that commonly support and survey in PIT counts can include:
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Outreach teams and Homeless Service Providers
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Community Service Providers, such as food banks, meal-sites, day/drop-in centers, mental health and substance use providers, and other mainstream social service agencies
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People experiencing homelessness or with lived experience
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Homeless advocacy groups and coalitions
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Federal partners funded by the VA, HHS, Department of Education, and HUD
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First responders and community responders
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Faith-based community partners
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Health Service Providers such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospitals
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Colleges and Universities
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Public libraries
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Local businesses and chambers of commerce
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Community volunteer and civic groups
What are the steps to participate in the PIT Count?
1. Review our Planning Meeting materials and share your interest
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Our Planning meeting was held virtually on June 24th. See the slides here.
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The focus of the meeting was to share some basic information for the July 2026 PIT Count, including timelines, survey methods and opportunities, and other important reminders.
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- Please email Emma to express interest in helping or contributing survey data! ecoles@communityaction.us
2. Review Survey and Training materials
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We will be providing two virtual training opportunities for anyone interested in being trained on the survey tool.
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Training is not required, but encouraged, for returning providers.
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Anyone who has questions about the Survey tool should plan on attending a live training or requesting assistance.
- Each Training opportunity will have the same content, so you only need to attend training once
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- Register below!
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Training 1: July 16th at 10:00am
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Training 2: July 21st at 3:00pm
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Please contact Emma if you would like to request any virtual or in person training for your organization/team
3. Prepare to survey
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People who work directly with persons who may be experiencing homelessness should let clients know about the PIT Count ahead of July 26th, so they know what to expect if they are surveyed up to a week later
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Become familiar with the Survey tool, and consider how you will handle asking sensitive questions
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Print out Surveys from our Document section!
4. Time to count
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You can begin survey people beginning Monday July 27th through Sunday August 2nd on where they slept on the night of Sunday July 26th.
5. Submit collected results to Emma Coles following the instructions listed on the PIT Count Surveys
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Contact information is listed at the bottom of each Survey Form
Who is counted?

Unsheltered Homelessness
1st priority for the PIT Count - persons who were experiencing unsheltered homelessness on the night of July 26th.
The following are examples of unsheltered homelessness
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Sleeping in cars/vehicles
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Tents/camping/encampments
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Abandoned buildings/structures without heat or water connections
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Bus/train stations
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Parks/parking lots
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Any other primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

Other Situations
2nd priority for the PIT Count - persons who were in one of the following situations the night of the count:
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Jail/Prison/Incarcerated
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Couch surfing (doubled up, not on the lease)
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Residential treatment program/Rehab/Detox center
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Motel/Hotel, paid out of pocket (not funded by an organization)
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Hospital/Medical Institution/skilled nursing facility
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At home, in danger, and unable to leave
While we cannot include these persons in the PIT Count Report, we do utilize this information in our community assessment locally.
January 2026 PIT Count
Thank you to our community partners that helped survey people for the Point in Time Count in January of this year!
We want to recognize the following organizations that contributed to our unsheltered PIT Count:
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Center for Human Development
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Clinical and Support Options
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Community Action Pioneer Valley
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Construct Inc.
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Craig's Doors
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Eliot CHS
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Families Like Ours
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Louison House
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The Recover Project
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ServiceNet (Pittsfield)
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Wildflower Alliance
We counted 97 unduplicated adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness and 597 people in shelter, for a total of 694 people across the Three Counties.
Berkshire County
Unsheltered Breakdown
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Adams - 1
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Lee - 1
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North Adams - 7
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Pittsfield - 14
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Sheffield - 1
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Williamstown - 1
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Unspecified - 1
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Total unsheltered count for Berkshire County - 26
Franklin County
Unsheltered Breakdown
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Greenfield - 29
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Sunderland - 2
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Turners Falls - 1
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Unspecified - 1
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Total unsheltered count for Franklin County - 33
Hampshire County
Unsheltered Breakdown
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Amherst - 7
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Easthampton - 1
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Northampton - 15
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Unspecified - 16
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Total unsheltered count for Hampshire County - 38


