In late January, Greater Good Charities partnered with the Tulsa Day Center to support the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count held Friday, the 23^rd.

Point in Time Counts—occurring each year on a single night in January—are planned and coordinated locally, with the aim of measuring sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness.

Helping to better understand the current housing crisis—related in part to rising housing costs and economic instability—Point in Time counts are carried out nationally, required by each state, and provide extensive opportunities for community impact, connection, and support.

It’s critical to have accurate data and community response capability in these cases—for many, the transition from housed to unhoused can be shockingly fast.

During this year’s Point in Time Count in Tulsa, Greater Good Charities was on the ground delivering emergency supplies with the Tulsa Day Center. At the same time, we were able to expand our efforts to meet expected severe winter storms.

Current estimates suggest over 700,000 people—30,000+ of whom are Veterans—are experiencing homelessness in the United States on a single night. In Tulsa, last year’s Point in Time Count totaled the unhoused population at over 1,400 people, a 4% increase from the previous year. The accuracy of these counts, and the data they convey, directly impacts allocation of federal and state funding as well as access to year-round resources.

With the participation of local Tulsa fire departments and law enforcement, our team and partners helped deploy 600 emergency packs over the course of two days.

These emergency packs included essential items such as blankets, hygiene supplies, and animal goods for those with pets—helping to meet critical needs, restore comfort, and strengthen local response efforts. For people experiencing homelessness with pets, these packs provide care for people and pets—affirming the role that pets play in emotional support and daily motivation.

But due to the onset of severe winter weather across the United States—what meteorologists called Winter Storm Fern—our weekend efforts shifted toward broader mass outreach.

To help address immediate safety and mobility needs in Tulsa, we assisted in the additional distribution of emergency packs, sleeping bags, hand warmers, bus passes, and water.

Providing these goods can often mean more than extra protection from the freezing cold—it can help preserve dignity, comfort, and opportunities to rebuild. It is also a difficult reminder that for many, knowing where the next meal, shower, or warmth will come from simply isn’t a reality.

Because of the compassion of our donors, and the collaboration of partnerships like the Tulsa Day Center, we're able to continue our efforts in providing care, support, and community impact while addressing the current housing crisis. These efforts truly can be life-saving, for people and pets.

At Greater Good Charities, we encourage you to learn more about our life-saving programs, share your story with us, and consider giving today. Together, we can continue to help bring hope, empathy, and understanding to the current housing crisis, and everything it impacts.