Hello and welcome to a podcast presented by the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness dedicated to exploring the critical and complex issue of homelessness here in our Great State. WVCEH Presents aims to shed light on the realities of homelessness in a way that moves beyond the headlines, to the heart of the issue, through honest discussions with individuals who have lived experience, and front line service providers alike. I’m your host - Ashley Hawkins - and I’m thrilled to have you join us on this conversational journey. If you’re new to the topic, or even if you’re already familiar with it, I hope this podcast helps broaden your perspective and give you tools for change, as we work together to address homelessness in our community. We’ve got a lot of work to do, folks, so let’s get started -together. If you would like to support WVCEH, please consider checking out our website at: wvceh.org (http://wvceh.org) or find us on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for tuning in!
PIT Count 2027 & The Great Backpack Misconception (and other lessons in human decency)
What does it really take to count people experiencing homelessness, and why does the way we approach someone matter just as much as the information we collect?
In this episode of WVCEH Presents, host Ashley Hawkins sits down with WVCEH's HMIS team members Stephanie Leep, Megan Deskins, and Joshua Kerns to discuss the upcoming 2027 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, taking place January 27–28 across West Virginia.
While the PIT Count provides an important snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, there's much more to the process than collecting numbers.
Explore what the PIT Count is, how the information is used, and what volunteers can expect when participating. More importantly, dive into the human side of the count: approaching people with dignity, avoiding assumptions, navigating sensitive conversations, respecting boundaries, and understanding that even a brief interaction can make a meaningful difference.
Want to get involved in PIT 2027?
Volunteer registration, training information, and additional resources are available at:
🌐 https://www.wvceh.org/pit (https://www.wvceh.org/pit)
📧 pit@wvceh.org (mailto:pit@wvceh.org)
Whether you're a returning volunteer, considering participating for the first time, or simply curious about how homelessness is measured in your community, this conversation is for you!
8 Sept 2026
Youth Action Board (YAB) with JJ
Have you ever thought about using your experiences to help make systems better for other young people?
In this episode, we’re joined by JJ Cayton, Youth Systems Specialist for the WV Balance of State CoC, to talk about our Youth Action Board (YAB) and, more importantly, why you might want to be part of it.
We talk about what YAB does, why lived experience and youth voice are so important to the homelessness response system, what participation can look like, and how interested young people can get involved.
This episode was recorded shortly after our YAB Summer Event, and it’s a little shorter and more informal than our usual fare. Your host was also fighting off a bug that day, so forgive a few less-polished-than-usual audio takes; the show must go on!
If you’re a young person interested in having a voice in the systems that affect your peers, or you know someone who might be, this episode is for you.
8 May 2026
A Closer Look at West Virginia’s Shelter System
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.
17 Apr 2026
Inside the 2026 PIT Count: Results & Reflections
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/ (https://wvceh.org/data/)
24 Nov 2025
Point In Time Count
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 pit@wvceh.org (mailto:pit@wvceh.org).
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/ (https://wvceh.org/data/)
Interested in volunteering? Follow this link to register > https://wvbos2025.pointintime.info/ (https://wvbos2025.pointintime.info/)
15 Oct 2025
Between the Lines: Welcome to WVCEH
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/ (https://homelessnesshousingproblem.com/)
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