Volunteers Brave Cold to Count Savannah's Homeless

Annual Point-in-Time survey aims to provide data to help allocate resources for unhoused residents.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Nearly 90 volunteers in Savannah, Georgia conducted the annual Point-in-Time count of the city's unhoused population on a freezing January night. The data collected from the survey of sheltered and unsheltered individuals is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to inform federal, state, and local efforts to address homelessness.

Why it matters

The Point-in-Time count provides a crucial snapshot of homelessness in Savannah, helping guide the allocation of resources and services. While the overall homeless population has risen in recent years, the number of unsheltered individuals has decreased, suggesting coordinated efforts to improve access to emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing have been effective.

The details

Armed with headlamps, reflective vests, and a survey app, volunteers split into eight teams to search the shadows of Savannah's streets, parking lots, and wooded areas where people experiencing homelessness often live unseen. The teams conducted surveys with willing participants, asking for basic personal information, where they slept that night, how long they had been without housing, and whether they were experiencing any health issues.

  • The annual Point-in-Time count took place on January 29, 2026.
  • Data from previous years shows the homeless population in Savannah rose from 579 in 2024 to 628 in 2025, while the number of unsheltered individuals decreased.

The players

Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH)

The local organization that coordinates the annual Point-in-Time count in Savannah.

Chris Wilson

An Outreach Case Manager with CSAH who previously experienced homelessness in the area before finding a path to recovery.

Karen Guinn

The board chair of the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless and one of the volunteers for the evening's count.

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What they’re saying

“I refuse to harden my heart or put those calluses there that stop me from being compassionate toward human beings.”

— Chris Wilson, Outreach Case Manager, CSAH (The Current GA)

“You're meeting people where they are. Some have very complex conditions, substance use disorder, severe mental illness, and trauma, so you kind of go into it with empathy and understanding. People are suffering.”

— Karen Guinn, Board Chair, Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless (The Current GA)

What’s next

The data collected from the Point-in-Time count will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will then report its findings in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. This information will help guide federal, state, and local efforts to allocate resources and services to address homelessness in Savannah.

The takeaway

The annual Point-in-Time count in Savannah highlights the city's ongoing efforts to support its unhoused population, with volunteers braving the cold to gather crucial data that informs resource allocation and coordination of services. While the overall homeless population has risen in recent years, the decrease in unsheltered individuals suggests these efforts are having a positive impact.