LA’s Homeless Count needs more volunteers

The Greater L.A. Homeless Count is just a week away, and officials are urging residents to register to volunteer.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which conducts the annual tally of the region’s unhoused population, is seeking nearly 8,000 volunteers. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 3,400 had signed up. That’s just 43% of the total number of volunteers the agency requested, but LAHSA officials say registrations are on pace with last year.

L.A.’s point-in-time count was originally scheduled for late January but was delayed over concerns that the recent wildfires could compromise the safety of volunteers and the accuracy of the data collected.

The wildfires have complicated volunteer recruitment, but LAHSA officials say they’re hopeful the recent sense of community support and volunteerism throughout the region will buoy those efforts.

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The displacements and financial losses from the fires are also expected to cause new homelessness in the region.

About the count

The count is the largest of its kind in the country, with volunteers fanning out across 4,000 square miles. The data gathered — primarily by volunteers — is a critical metric for understanding the real scope of L.A.'s homelessness crisis, and directing funding and resources to the areas that need it the most.

Last year, LAHSA says 5,968 volunteers signed up for the count.

“The more volunteers you have, the more likely you are to get the full count,” said Ben Henwood, a professor at USC’s School of Social Work, which partners with LAHSA on the annual homeless count. “If there are not sufficient volunteers to do the counts, then you may end up with an undercount, which isn't helpful.”

LAHSA is already ramping up staff involvement to provide support at deployment sites and may rely even more on staff if volunteer registrations fall short, according to officials.

Ahead of next week’s count, the agency has been reaching out to volunteers from past years and confirming with volunteers who are already registered.

How to volunteer

This year’s count will take place Feb. 18, 19 and 20, beginning at 8 p.m. each evening. LAHSA has identified several neighborhoods with the most need for volunteers.

Those include Highland Park, MacArthur Park, Northridge, Reseda and Studio City. Meanwhile, some sites are already at capacity, including East Hollywood, West Hollywood, Atwater Village and Palmdale.

• Tuesday, Feb. 18: Volunteers will tally the unhoused residents in much of the L.A. Metro area, the San Fernando Valley, and the Santa Clarita Valley. 
• Wednesday Feb. 19: Volunteers will spread out throughout East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. 
• Thursday, Feb. 20: The Greater L.A. homeless count will conclude with a focus on West L.A., South L.A., the Antelope Valley and the South Bay. 

Volunteers can participate in one night of the count or all three, LAHSA officials said. The deadline to register is one day before each count is scheduled to take place, and all volunteer training materials are available online.

People interested in volunteering can register and learn more at: theycountwillyou.org.