2026 Wichita-Sedgwick County Point-In-Time Homeless Count on Thursday, Jan. 29

WICHITA, Kan., Jan. 26, 2026 – The annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count is a national effort led once a year by professionals and volunteers to estimate the number of Americans who don’t have safe and stable housing. The results are reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to study national trends and as part of the HUD grant requirements. The count information is also used locally to make funding decisions, reach underserved people and increase awareness about those who don’t have secure housing. Volunteers will be wearing high visibility safety vests, visiting sites unhoused neighbors are likely to be, and conducting interviews with everyone they encounter.

When: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Across Sedgwick County

Video/Photo Opportunities: 7 – 10 a.m.

Interview Opportunities: 8:30 – 10 a.m.

A United Way of the Plains representative will be available for interviews about the count progress at The Salvation Army (350 N. Market). Media crews may park in the Broadway and 3rd parking lot and should proceed to the gym on the second floor.

Local Administration:

United Way of the Plains leads the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County, the community coalition working to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring for all our neighbors. The partner agencies in the coalition are leading this effort and will work with volunteers to conduct the 2026 Point-In-Time Homeless Count for the Wichita and Sedgwick County area. More than 150 volunteers have signed up to receive training and participate. The count results are reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for their national database and as part of their grant requirements.

History:

The last Point-In-Time Homeless Count in Wichita-Sedgwick County was conducted for one 24-hour period on Jan. 23, 2025. Check this link for more information about the 2025 count. Reports about past counts conducted across the nation can be found on the HUD EXCHANGE website at hudexchange.info.

United Way of the Plains submits the annual HUD grant application and manages the yearly process for funding homeless services in Sedgwick County. The Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County was awarded a $3.2 million HUD grant in 2025. United Way also manages the shared database that is used for case conferencing to match clients with needed resources. More information about the Coalition can be found here:  CoalitionToEndHomelessness.org.

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B-ROLL AVAILABLE: 
Download video footage here: https://vimeo.com/1157650074/7912a36a23

MEDIA CONTACT: Stacy Ward Lattin, Manager of Public Outreach and Community Engagement, (316) 267-1321, ext. 4224, swardlattin@unitedwayplains.org

United Way of the Plains is a nonprofit and for-impact organization that focuses on health, education, financial stability and basic needs – the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Our mission is to improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas. Follow us on these social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.