Volunteers Needed To Help Count Homeless Residents, Provide Unsheltered With Relief Info

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Members of faith-based groups, churches, civic organizations, public agencies, student bodies and others who are able to volunteer to help with Riverside County's 2027 point-in-time homeless count are welcome to sign up anytime, officials said Tuesday.

The program, slated for Jan. 20-22, will be part of the county's More Than A Count initiative, which focuses not only on tabulating the number of homeless residents, but providing them with details on how to immediately apply for relief to get off the streets.

"More Than A Count reflects our commitment to making this effort about more than gathering data," Housing & Workforce Solutions Director Heidi Marshall said. "Through the extraordinary collaboration of our cities, service providers, volunteers and public safety partners, we have an opportunity to connect people with meaningful support while strengthening our understanding of homelessness across the region."

The countywide tally is scheduled biennially, and during the January 2025 canvass, nearly 1,000 people volunteered, seeking out and verifying the status of individuals living in cars, under bridges, in transient encampments, homeless shelters and other locations throughout the county.

The regional Continuum of Care manages the annual outings. The entity is composed of representatives from civic groups, nonprofit organizations and government.

The 2025 homeless census confirmed 3,990 people were chronically unsheltered in the county, compared to 3,725 individuals in the 2023 survey, a 7% increase.

"Our cities are essential partners in this work, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to addressing homelessness in their communities," Board of Supervisors Chair Karen Spiegel said. "From dedicated city staff who help coordinate regional homeless services to public safety personnel who work alongside volunteers in the field, this effort reflects a shared commitment to understanding the needs of our residents and connecting people with resources."

No experience with point-in-time counts is necessary to volunteer. Some training is required, and although youths as young as 16 years old can participate, all minors will have to be accompanied by an adult, according to officials.

Volunteers must also have a smart phone or tablet to conduct the survey and be able to walk up to two hours.

The data is used by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to determine how to distribute federal homeless relief funding, and by policy makers in determining the scope of homelessness nationwide -- including what's working, and what's not.

All those interested in participating are encouraged to register at rivcohws.org/homeless-point-time-pit-count.