BISMARCK, ND – In an ongoing effort to address homelessness in North Dakota, the North Dakota Homeless Continuum of Care (ND CoC) is set to conduct its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on January 24, 2024. The goal of the PIT Count is to capture a comprehensive snapshot of individuals experiencing homelessness in the state.
Dave Flohr, Executive Director of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA), highlighted the importance of the PIT Count, stating, “This is a crucial tool in our ongoing commitment to addressing homelessness and creating effective, targeted solutions for those in need.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires CoCs to conduct an annual count of sheltered individuals experiencing homelessness annually. While an unsheltered count is mandatory only in odd-numbered years, ND’s CoC remains committed to conducting a comprehensive count annually, emphasizing coordinated efforts at the regional level.
“A collaborative approach, including strong regional engagement, volunteers, service providers, various community stakeholders, and an area lead is essential to complete the count and ensure the accuracy and relevance of the data collected,” states Flohr.
To learn more about the PIT Count or to provide assistance, individuals are encouraged to contact their respective region’s area lead:
- Region 1, Williston: Sophie Page, (678) 997-8122
- Region 2, Minot: Tesa Curtiss, (701) 989-4850
- Region 3, Devils Lake: Rob Johnson, (701) 230-1859
- Region 4, Grand Forks: Jenna Richardson, (701) 200-1928
- Region 5, Fargo: Corina Bell, (701) 936-7171
- Region 6, Jamestown: Mike Weatherly, (701) 253-6300
- Region 7, Bismarck: Renae Moch, (701) 355-1540
- Region 8, Dickinson: Heather Ingman, (701) 255-4506
HUD’s CoC program aims to foster a communitywide commitment to ending homelessness, providing funding to support these efforts, and optimizing self-sufficiency for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
NDHFA serves as the Collaborative Applicant for the state’s homeless CoC, overseeing a geographic scope including all 53 North Dakota counties, its cities, towns, and unincorporated areas, as well as the state’s five federally recognized tribes. More information about the ND CoC is available online at ndcontinuumofcare.org.
As a self-supporting and mission-driven state agency, NDHFA is dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. The North Dakota Industrial Commission, consisting of Gov. Doug Burgum, as the chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley, oversees the agency.
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