It is vital to have accurate data on those that are unhoused in the community; the reasons for being unhoused, the amount of time without shelter, age and information on mental illness, substance abuse disorder and veteran status, are all critical to receiving federal funding and identifying the type of prevention programs needed to minimize this issue. The Homeless Coalition of Hays County, which is the local chapter of the Texas Homeless Network, conducts a Point in Time Count annually. The PIT count is a snapshot of the current data related to the unhoused that is gathered on a single night, which was Jan. 25. There were 246 total unhoused people found in Hays County in 2024 — the highest number found across the four years the survey has been conducted. This is done by other factions across the Texas Homeless Network (237 of the 254 counties) to develop statewide data related to the unhoused.