By Sacramento City Express
Sacramento organizers are asking community members to volunteer in the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) count to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Sacramento region.
The PIT count will be held from 5-11 p.m. on Jan. 26 and 27.
“While it captures only a snapshot in time, the PIT count offers valuable, community-wide participation and insight,” said Dr. Trenton Simmons, chief program officer of Sacramento Steps Forward, the agency that organizes the PIT count. “It helps us better understand homelessness in our region and ensures our community can continue accessing funding that directly supports our neighbors who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.”
No prior experience is required to volunteer. Participants must complete online training in advance and will receive materials ahead of the count to help them prepare. Volunteers will meet at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center (6151 H St.) before being assigned to predetermined routes throughout the county.
Volunteers will use a mobile app to record the number of people they encounter who said they would be sleeping outdoors or in vehicles. They also conduct a brief survey with those willing to participate to better understand who is experiencing homelessness in Sacramento, for how long and what kinds of services could best assist them.
The PIT count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The data provided by the PIT count will be used to allocate funding and design programs to address homelessness.
Volunteers focus on people living unsheltered outdoors, but the overall PIT count includes those staying in respite centers or shelters.
Those interested in participating must register on Sacramento Steps Forward’s online portal by Jan. 16.
To canvass, a volunteer must be at least 18 years old, be willing to travel by foot or car to predetermined locations, and be willing to use their personal smartphone and flashlight.
The last PIT count, conducted in 2024, found that an estimated 6,615 people are living without homes in Sacramento County. The 2024 count represents a 41 percent decrease in unsheltered homelessness compared to the 2022 count.
Click here to learn more about the City’s comprehensive response to the homelessness crisis.
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