BILLINGS — More than 65 volunteers fanned out across Yellowstone County Thursday night to take part in the county’s annual Point-in-Time count, a federally required survey designed to measure homelessness in the community. Last year’s survey counted more than 400 people experiencing homelessness in the Billings area, with previous years seeing almost 600. Related: Volunteers start count of unhoused Billings residents"It's kind of a snapshot of homelessness in the community," said Kody Christensen, community resource director for Downtown Billings. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires Continuums of Care across the country to conduct the survey annually. Organizers said the survey not only provides critical data but also helps volunteers better understand the people behind the numbers.