City Seeks Volunteers For Homeless Count

The City is seeking volunteers for the 2024 homeless count.

The count, also known as the Point in Time Count, is required for Pasadena by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to receive annual federal Continuum of Care Program funding. 

The count is typically taken during the last ten days of January.

Working in teams of 4-5 people, volunteers help count and administer a survey to people in Pasadena experiencing homelessness. 

The teams go out together from 8 to 10 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 6 to 8 a.m. on Jan. 24. 

Volunteers should be at least 18 and be prepared to attend a virtual orientation.

The goal of the count is to produce a snapshot figure of how many people are homeless across Pasadena on a typical night.

In contrast to other jurisdictions that only conduct the count every other year, Pasadena opts for an annual count to better understand the extent of homelessness, track local performance in addressing the issue, identify priorities, guide resource allocation, and increase public awareness about homelessness.

The data will be used by the City and nonprofits involved in serving the unhoused to understand the extent of homelessness and the changes in trends among specific sub-populations, to identify local priorities that should be considered in making resource allocation decisions, and to help in the planning and development of more effective services and resources.

Last year volunteers reported an increase in the homeless count for the first time since 2019.

Volunteers counted 556 people experiencing homelessness, up from 512 people in the previous count.

The deadline to register is Jan. 5. 

For more details on the 2024 Homeless Count and to sign up to volunteer, visit Bit.ly/Pasadena-Homeless-Count-24.