Hernando County to Offer Meals, Toiletry Bags and PIT Count Jan. 27

Hernando County Housing and Supportive Services is holding a countywide outreach event today to provide meals, free toiletry bags and to conduct a Point In Time (PIT) Count aimed at improving services and securing federal funding for residents experiencing homelessness. The coordinated effort places staff and partners at multiple sites across Spring Hill and Brooksville to reach people where they are.

People Helping People at 1396 Kass Circle in Spring Hill will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. NAMI Hernando at 4030 Commercial Way in Spring Hill will host services from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In Brooksville, the Elks Lodge at 210 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Hernando Mentorship Empowerment at 209 Ponce De Leon Blvd. will operate from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Meals and free toiletry bags are being handed out at these locations, and staff will be conducting the PIT Count during normal operating hours.

The PIT Count is a federally recognized snapshot used to inform allocations of homelessness assistance funding. Accurate, on-the-ground counts help local agencies document need and pursue Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal resources that fund emergency shelter, transitional housing and supportive services. For Hernando County, a more complete PIT Count can directly influence grant eligibility and the scale of services available to vulnerable residents in coming budget cycles.

Transportation access is being supported by Hernando County Transit (TheBus), which will operate on its regular routes to assist people with travel questions. Organizers emphasized accessibility by staging multiple sites across the county and scheduling staggered hours to reach morning, midday and afternoon populations.

Volunteer support and donations are part of the operation. Individuals and organizations that wish to help or donate can contact Hernando County Housing and Supportive Services at 352-540-4338 for sign-up and drop-off information. The coordinated approach is intended both to meet immediate needs and to strengthen the county’s data-driven case for sustained federal support.

For Hernando County residents, the event offers immediate relief for those facing housing instability and signals a practical effort to tie outreach to long-term funding. Continued participation by volunteers, agencies and transit riders will shape how well the county documents need and secures resources in future funding cycles.