Volunteers Needed: Help Count The Homeless In Encinitas

ENCINITAS, CA – Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear is inviting community members to help count the number of homeless individuals in the city.

The city needs 34 volunteers to help count and gather information about the homeless population, in an effort to estimate the total number of individuals living unsheltered in Encinitas.

The Regional Task Force on the Homeless conducts a one-day count of the homeless population in San Diego County every year. The most recent report, from last January, showed Encinitas had 93 homeless people, of which just 39 were living in shelters. Six percent of the 54 unsheltered homeless were veterans.

“If we don’t record how many people live this way and assess trends year after year, it’s nearly impossible for government and social services agencies at all levels to figure out meaningful solutions,” Blakespear said in her newsletter. “I’ll admit that I don’t fully understand the current spike in homelessness, but I suspect it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Encinitas volunteers are gathering for this year's "Point-in-Time Count" of the local homeless population at 4 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27 at the Community Resource Center, located at 650 2nd St.

Those interested in participating are asked to register online at http://rtfh.volunteerhub.com/events/index. Use the join code: "Mayor" to join the city of Encinitas / Mayor's Group.

Photo: M1kha via Flickr