In this episode, Ashley Hawkins sits down with Jessica Gregg of the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness to break down how homeless shelters really work, and why so many common assumptions miss the mark. From funding challenges and low-barrier models to the real reasons people may avoid shelters, this conversation explores the shift from simply providing beds to focusing on long-term housing outcomes. Whether you’re a community member, policymaker, or service provider, this episode offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of shelter systems and what it takes to make them effective.

We are back with our HMIS/PIT team, reviewing and reflecting on the 2026 PIT Count! Individual county results and broad scale comparative overviews can be found at: https://wvceh.org/data/

In this episode, Ashley sits down with members of our PIT team to break down the what, why, and how of the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. Every January, Continuums of Care across the country conduct a 24-hour count of people experiencing homelessness—both in shelters and in unsheltered locations. The PIT Count helps track trends, identify unmet needs, and guide the development of housing and supportive services in our communities.

This work depends on volunteers and partner agencies. If you or your organization would like to participate in the upcoming PIT Count, please reach out at [email protected].

The next count will take place from 4:00 PM on January 28th to 3:59 PM on January 29th, 2026.

Want to check out the data from PITs past? Follow the link to learn more > https://wvceh.org/data/

Interested in volunteering? Follow this link to register > https://wvbos2025.pointintime.info/

Your host -Ashley- launches the inaugural episode of "Between the Lines" with core founding members Zach Brown, Amanda Sisson, and Matthew Hedrick, who introduce the West Virginia Coalition on Homelessness as the largest provider of direct services for people experiencing homelessness in West Virginia. Despite current socio-political challenges and funding uncertainties, the Coalition remains committed to its mission of housing people and advocating for human dignity.

For those interested in the book Zach references in the episode, you can find it at the following link: https://homelessnesshousingproblem.com/

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