The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is seeking 300 volunteers to help conduct the 2024 Homeless Point in Time Count.
The annual Point in Time Count (Count) is a street count where residents survey the people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, and ask them questions about their experiences. The Count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which coordinates housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
While HUD requires a biannual Count, Long Beach has chosen to conduct its Count annually, this year falling on Jan 25, 2024.
Along with providing a useful snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, the Count also offers residents the opportunity to learn various perspectives, educate themselves on available resources and contribute to the efforts of reducing homelessness.
Long Beach’s Homeless Services Bureau will organize the count and provide leadership.
Residents can register online until all 300 slots are filled. If more than 300 people register, they will be added to a waitlist.
To volunteer for the Count, people must:
- Be 18 years or older.
- Attend a two-hour orientation and training prior to the day of the Count. Orientations will be held both virtually and in person and will occur in early January.
- Commit to a four-hour canvassing shift on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Volunteers will be expected to report at 4:30 a.m. and dispatched to the field by 5 a.m.
People registering as volunteers should expect to arrive at the Grand Long Beach (4101 E. Willow St.) at 4:30 a.m. They will be assigned a segment of the city for the street-based count in groups of three to five volunteers.
Volunteers will conduct a survey to people they come across who are experiencing homelessness and who are willing to share their information. Volunteer teams will be provided with gift cards, hygiene kits and water to distribute to the people experiencing homelessness.
In areas of the city with less density, people may be assigned to canvas by car, but most will be on foot.
Long Beach requires a two-hour orientation that will educate canvassers on best practices to engage people experiencing homelessness, how to use a mobile application to administer the Count and additional logistics.
Volunteer orientations are mandatory, regardless of prior participation in the Count, and will be hosted on the following days and times:
- Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, Jan. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Long Beach Multi-Service Center (1301 W. 12th St.)
- Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Long Beach Multi-Service Center
- Thursday, Jan. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom
To learn more about the Long Beach Homeless Count, visit the longbeach.gov/HomelessCount, email HomelessCount@longbeach.gov or call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4500.
