Reconcile federal definitions between HUD and MV on family homelessness. Rely on DOE counts rather than PIT to scope family homelessness.
Differing definitions of homelessness and methods of data-gathering between HUD and McKinney Vento tell very different data-based stories of family homelessness in the US. While the DOE perspective deepens the challenge by accommodating families doubled-up or staying in motels on their own dime, their method of data gathering is more robust and better suited to present trends--they gather data throughout the school year. The PIT on the other hand is ripe with any number of environmental or methodological inconsistencies that limit the tool's credibility in drawing a baseline or reporting out a reliable trend. While PIT remains an authority measure most do not question the DOE count as the expert measure.
http://www.citizen-times.com/longform/local/2014/06/21/homeless-students-education/11209293/