The PIT count data is used to develop and fund housing and supportive programs for those in need. The most common factors of homelessness in northern Nevada are domestic crises (including domestic battery), inability to find an affordable house or apartment, unemployment, sudden illness in the family, and unforeseen major expenses.  Additional factors include the lack of adequate transportation preventing individuals from living in permanent housing, non-payment for child assistance, severe mental illness, chronic substance abuse, and victims of domestic violence. Preventing and ending homelessness is a complex issue beyond just providing housing or rental assistance, involving a coordinated system with access to substance abuse, mental, physical and behavioral health services, foster care, and criminal justice systems services.

HUD's annual PIT estimates, provide a snapshot of homelessness (sheltered and unsheltered) on a single night during the last 10 days of January. HUD has methodological standards for conducting the PIT counts, but regional CoCs (Continuum of Care) use a variety of approved methods to produce the counts, therefore, HUD reviews the data for accuracy and quality prior to creating the estimates of homelessness.