Barrasso Introduces Bill to Improve Homelessness Data Collection

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to modernize data collection on homeless populations in the United States.

The PIT Count Modernization Act would update the methods used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to measure homeless populations. This updated approach would allow federal and state governments to better assess homelessness programs and determine funding allocations.

"Washington's current approach to collecting data on homelessness misses the mark. By mandating a single annual survey in January, the federal government often undercounts the scale of homeless populations," said Barrasso. "In Wyoming and other states where winter conditions drive people into temporary shelter, this system fails to accurately capture how many folks are experiencing homelessness. The PIT Count Modernization Act would move surveys to April and streamline data collection methods nationwide. This will give us the accurate information we need to better deploy resources to individuals and families in their time of need."

Barrasso's PIT Count Modernization Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).

The PIT Count Modernization Act is supported by the Wyoming Continuum of Care, Council of Community Services, Casper Housing Authority, Community Action Partnership of Natrona County, Good Samaritan Mission, and Community Action of Laramie County.

Community Action of Laramie County released the following statement in support of the legislation:

"Having an accurate understanding of homelessness in our community is critical to the work we do every day. The January PIT Count is always challenging due to weather conditions, moving the count to a more weather-neutral time of year could totally change our PIT Count numbers. Ultimately, that means better services and outcomes for the individuals and families experiencing homelessness."

The Wyoming Continuum of Care released the following statement in support of the legislation:

"The Wyoming CoC Board appreciates Senator Barrasso's leadership on this bill. Shifting the point in time count to April will improve safety, increase participation, and give Wyoming communities better data to respond to homelessness."

Community Action Partnership of Natrona County wrote a letter of support for the legislation:

"On behalf of the Board of Community Action Partnership of Natrona County (CAPNC), I write to convey our formal support for the Point-in-Time Count Modernization Act. At its meeting on June 23, 2026, our Board adopted a resolution endorsing the legislation and authorizing this letter. We are grateful to you and to Senator Lummis for advancing a bill that speaks directly to the realities of counting homelessness in a rural state."

Jeremy Aughenbaugh, CEO of Good Samaritan Mission, released the following statement in support of the legislation:

"We at the Good Samaritan Mission fully support Senator Barrasso's Point-In-Time Count bill. This legislation will give us a clearer picture of what homelessness and its effects look like in Wyoming as warmer weather will enable us to go out and better identify those in need. The proposed standardized HMIS reporting requirements, in addition to further HUD-provided training and support, would streamline and focus our efforts in meeting the challenge of housing insecurity."

Background:

The bill updates the methodology used to conduct Point-in-Time (PIT) counts of sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations. Currently, local Continuums of Care (CoCs) conduct PIT counts annually in January on behalf of HUD. CoCs are local networks of nonprofit homeless providers, housing agencies, social service providers, hospitals, and affordable housing developers that organize homelessness assistance and administer HUD funding within their geographic areas.

HUD then uses PIT Count data to evaluate the effectiveness of local homelessness programs, determine funding allocations, and compile the Annual Homeless Assessment Report, which is submitted to Congress. Because methodologies vary across CoCs - with some continuing to use paper surveys, while others are adopting mobile analytics technology and other data collection methods - homelessness data is often inconsistent and influenced by winter weather patterns.

Specifically, the bill:

• Moves the PIT Count from January to the last ten days of April.
• Authorizes the HUD Secretary to establish standardized HMIS reporting requirements for PIT Counts conducted among CoCs for mapping and spatial analysis of unsheltered and sheltered homeless populations.
• Requires CoCs to maintain HMIS data for unsheltered and sheltered populations at a midpoint between annual PIT counts.
• Directs the GAO to conduct a non-partisan study evaluating PIT Count methodology and recommend modernization strategies to Congress, including:
  • How can HUD standardize collection methodology across CoCs?
  • How can HUD increase consistency and improve data fidelity within each CoC?

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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