On January 25th, 2024, Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH) led the 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, the annual census of people experiencing homelessness in the Chatham/Savannah area. The PIT Count is a HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) mandated count of people experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness across the nation. The PIT Count provides a snapshot of the people experiencing homelessness in our community on any given night at any given time. From 2023 to 2024, this snapshot revealed a reduction from 745 people experiencing homelessness at any point in time to 579 people experiencing homelessness at any point in time. This reduction represents a 22.5% decrease in the number of our friends and neighbors experiencing homelessness.

“Data collection for the PIT Count focused on quality with an emphasis on full county coverage. For the last two years, The Counting Us app was used for survey collection. Simtech Solutions provided advanced technical support and training, along with a survey tool tailored for this region. Using this advanced technology ensures individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness and those in shelters are only counted once. We work with our community partners throughout the year to collect data on where people might be staying in places not meant for human habitation. This effort allows our team and more than 100 volunteers an opportunity to complete an accurate count the night of the PIT,” said Wanda Wesley, Director of Outreach Services at Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless.

“While the 2023 Point-in-Time Count indicated an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in Chatham County, our 2024 census illuminated lower numbers than our pre-pandemic count and showed a 22.5% reduction from last year’s number. This decrease is the result of strong collaboration within our service provider network. Strategic investments in new initiatives by both the City of Savannah and Chatham County have been highly effective and helped more people experiencing homelessness access vital services, which are key to helping them on their journey towards safe, stable housing,” said Jennifer Dulong, CEO and Executive Director of Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless.

Multi-agency street outreach efforts reduced the number of encampments from 87 in 2023 to 51 in 2024. This is a 41% decrease from last year. Our annual service count data for 2023 indicated that 25% of all people accessing the homeless service system in our community exited the system to some form of housing. The work of our faith community leaders at Come as You Are Deliverance ministries day center along with increased efforts to reunify unhoused friends and neighbors with family by the Dive Savannah and Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless aided in this year’s successful outcome. “We are committed to building on and continuing to invest in proven solutions and innovative approaches enhancing our system for Chatham’s residences facing homelessness. There is still much work to be done, but with the support of the Interagency Council on Homelessness and our community, we are all moving in the same direction,” said Dulong.