Community partners from across Cumberland County gathered together on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Tony Rand Student Center to discuss community efforts on how to address and transform the trajectory of homelessness across the County. 

Government organizations, nonprofits focusing on helping the homeless, local church groups and more all gathered to hear about some of the current initiatives in place and the impact homelessness has on the community. 

The event featured presentations from 12 organizations and government departments currently addressing the needs of the homeless in Cumberland County.  

One of the main goals of the event was to highlight the importance of the upcoming Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, a federally mandated, one-night snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in the United States. The official date for the 2027 PIT Count will be Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027 starting at 8 a.m., and continuing through Friday, Jan. 22, 2027.

“Our focus is data solutions and a stronger community. The goal isn't just identifying homelessness; it is using what we learn to make an informed decision and connect people with resources that can help them improve and move towards housing stability. This is a community effort. We cannot do it by ourselves, and it's not something one agency can accomplish on its own,” shared Rayshonia Manuel, director of Community Development for Cumberland County. “When we talk about homelessness, people sometimes immediately picture someone sleeping outside, but that's not the only part of the picture. We also count people staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and homelessness -or being unhoused- can affect individuals, veterans, young people, older adults and families.” 

Throughout the 24-hour counting period, organized teams of trained volunteers and community partners will visit designated locations throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. These locations may include areas where individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness are known to gather, as well as churches, charitable organizations, shelters, and community service providers.

Working together, these teams will seek to identify and survey individuals experiencing homelessness, helping ensure that some of our community's most vulnerable residents are not overlooked.

“We need to be consistent about who is counted and how couch surfing and other forms of housing instability may be serious needs, but they are not automatically a part of the pit count. So, why is collecting this information important? We can't make a good decision about resources without understanding the need,” continued Manuel. ”PIT helps us look at the trends over time, identify possible service gaps, and evaluate where to concentrate community efforts. Data alone does not solve this homelessness problem, but good data helps us make better decisions in how we address it. The count informs funding and planning.” 

The NC-511 Fayetteville/Cumberland County Continuum of Care invites the entire community to join this important effort.  

The Point-in-Time Count is more than an annual reporting requirement. It is an opportunity for our community to come together, recognize the needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and support efforts toward greater housing stability and access to essential resources.

Whether you volunteer your time, help identify locations, encourage others to participate, or simply spread the word, your contribution matters.

To volunteer, register for training, or access the “Help Us Locate the Homeless” reporting link, please visit:

Cumberland County Community Development — 2027 Point-in-Time Count https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/.../point-in-time-count