Canceled: 2026 Point in Time Count- CANCELED- Please read email in body of invite
Smith, Cara
From: Sander, Martha <mar...@themosshouse.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 2:10:02 PM
To: Yolanda Redd <yr...@daeoc.com>; Wilson, Glenna J. CMOVAMC <Glenna...@va.gov>; Anthony Smith <anth...@fccinc.org>; Reginald
Jennings <regi...@capeareahabitat.org>; Sandy Wilson <sandy....@icalliances.org>; Martha Sander <mar...@themosshouse.org>;
Shamarie Johnson <shjo...@pfh.org>; Becky Poitras <beckyp...@mlmkc.org>; Cobb, Sharon <scob...@gmail.com>; Kari Utterback <Kari.Ut...@como.gov>;
McCoy, Chera <chera...@dmh.mo.gov>; Leah Woods <leah....@icalliances.org>; Ann Gosnell-Hopkins <anngo...@lexingtonhouseofhope.org>;
Hahn, Nicolle <nh...@eastmoaa.org>; Andrea Rowland <andrea...@hhesinc.com>; Sonia Campbell <scam...@ccharities.com>;
David Henrion <daveh...@gmail.com>
Subject: Please share - Unsheltered Point in Time Count cancelled - MO-606
Hello Membership,
After careful consideration and thought, the board has voted to cancel the 2026 unsheltered point in time count scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026. This was a very difficult decision to make and was not a unanimous one. Here are the reasons why:
· Large portions of our state are covered with 6 to 12 inches of snow, making many side roads both dangerous and slick with refreezing.
· The frigid arctic temperatures are dangerous for anyone to be out in the elements. Again, if there are vehicle issues, sliding off the road, or mishaps with getting stuck, it could pose dangerous threats to our agency staff and volunteers.
· Mo Dept of Health and Human Services is reporting a very high positivity rate for Influenza in our state right now. Positivity rates are 14.8% with almost 5,000 cases reported last week. We need to be cognizant of this issue when we are going out to encampments and exposing people already suffering in the elements to sickness like flu and covid.
The CoC is not required to have an unsheltered count this year. Because of this, the board has decided in the interest of safety for all involved-- agency staff, volunteers, and those we seek to serve--a count is not the most prudent right
now.
NEXT STEPS:
· If you have local events planned like a Project Homeless Connect, you can still have those events. Cancelling the statewide unsheltered count does NOT cancel local events. If your community wants to still collect paper surveys for local use, you can still collect the information. The papers will not be loaded into the portal but they may be very useful for local planning.
· If you are having an event, please do everything you can to get people coming to your event assessed for coordinated entry and placed on the prioritization list. This is very important that we help people get assessed for help.
· Please be cognizant of the Influenza transmission rate in our state. Protect those coming for resources and help. Protect yourself. Protect your volunteers. Consider having masks available for those that might want one.
SHELTERED COUNT: PIT AND HIC
· There are no changes to this count at this time. The sheltered count and housing inventory count will go on, as planned, on the night of Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
· Please reach out to ICA if you have any questions.
POP UP WARMING CENTERS:
· With the frigid temperatures, there are many popup warming centers that are staying open 24 hours. If your community has a warming center open through the night of Wednesday, January 28, 2026 you can do two things to help:
o Assess the center. If they have cots and places for people to sleep, please get this information to Leah and the team at ICA so they can be counted in the sheltered count.
o If they are merely open for warming, with no beds and no food, just a place for folks to sit up all night, pop in or out, bring their own pillow/blanket and sleep on the floor or a church pew, they are considered unsheltered. You might consider going to the warming center later in the evening and doing assessments on people who are experiencing literal homelessness. Help by giving resources and getting them connected to local agencies that can help get them document ready for housing.
All of your efforts to end homelessness are deeply appreciated. You DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of others. Thank you for all that you do.
Martha Sander
Board Chair, MO-606
Martha
Martha Sander
Executive Director
Council On Families In Crisis
415 N Main
Nevada, MO 64772
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