Long Beach Seeks Volunteers for 2027 Homeless Point in Time Count

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: A volunteer for the 2025 Point in Time Count, an annual street count of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is calling on 350 community members to volunteer for the 2027 Point in Time Count, an annual street count of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2027.

Long Beach is one of only three cities in Los Angeles County that independently manages its own Continuum of Care (CoC), a local network funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that coordinates housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. While HUD requires Continuums of Care to conduct a count every other year, Long Beach holds its Count annually to better inform local planning and improve services. The City's Homeless Services Bureau, within the Health Department, leads the effort and oversees the Long Beach CoC.

The Point in Time Count is a communitywide effort that helps the City better understand homelessness in Long Beach. Information gathered during the Count helps inform local planning, services and identification of resource gaps. Volunteers play an important role by canvassing assigned areas and, when appropriate, administering surveys to people experiencing homelessness.

Volunteer registration is now open and will remain available until all slots are filled. If more than 350 people register, additional participants will be placed on a waitlist.

Street Count Volunteer Information
To volunteer for the Count, people must:

• Be 18 years or older.
  • Complete one required orientation and training session prior to the Count. Orientations will be offered both virtually and in person in January.
  • Commit to a four-hour canvassing shift on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2027. Volunteers will check in between 5 and 5:30 a.m. and will be dispatched to the field by 6 a.m.

Volunteers will meet at The Grand Long Beach (4101 E. Willow St.), where they will be grouped in teams of three to five and assigned specific areas of the city for the count. Teams will also administer surveys to people experiencing homelessness who are willing to share information and distribute gift cards, hygiene kits and water during the outreach. In low-density areas of the city, volunteers may be assigned to canvass by car, but most will be on foot.

All street count volunteers, regardless of prior participation, must select one of the following required orientation sessions when signing up. The sessions will cover best practices for engaging with people experiencing homelessness, how to use the Count's mobile application and day-of logistics:

• Online: Tuesday Jan. 12, 2027, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
• In-person: Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Housing Authority building (1500 Hughes Way, Ste. C-300). Capacity is limited and space will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Online: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Shelter Count Volunteer Information

In addition to the street count, the City also conducts a shelter count where staff and volunteers collect data and administer surveys to people residing in local interim housing facilities. According to HUD, residents of interim housing are still considered to be experiencing homelessness.

People interested in participating in the shelter count, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2027, can note their interest when registering for the Point in Time Count. Shelter count volunteers will not be asked to participate in the street count on Jan. 27, 2027, and will be required to participate in a separate virtual training on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Connecting People to Resources
Residents can play a role in addressing homelessness by reporting people or areas in need of services. Connecting people with the available resources is crucial to ensuring positive outcomes for the entire community. To assist residents, the City has published a guide outlining who to call in different situations.

Donation Drop-offs
Donation drop-off bins, implemented in early 2023, remain available at locations across the city, offering a convenient way for residents to contribute essential items that can make a meaningful impact. Bins are located at all open Long Beach Public Library locations during regular business hours, as well as at the locations below:

• Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Scherer Park Community Center, (4654 Pasadena Ave.), Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.

For more information about the Long Beach Homeless Count, visit longbeach.gov/homelesscount, email [email protected], or call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4500

Media inquiries may be directed to the Health Department's Public Affairs Office at [email protected].

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