Volunteers Needed for Los Angeles Homeless Count This Week

The annual Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is set to take place from January 24 to 26, 2026, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is urgently seeking volunteers to assist with this crucial census. The count plays a vital role in shaping solutions to the city’s ongoing homelessness crisis, which has continued to grow.

According to Paul Rubenstein, a representative from LAHSA, the volunteer force is essential for accurately assessing the number of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates that a Point-In-Time Homeless Count occurs nationwide during the last ten days of January. Volunteers will be tasked with identifying and counting vehicles and tents where individuals may be sleeping outdoors, ensuring that the data collected reflects the true scale of the issue.

The counts will be conducted at night, as daytime efforts may lead to individuals being counted multiple times due to their mobility. “We’re going to get them all trained, we will hand each of them a census track, and they will go to their assigned area to find everybody experiencing homelessness in that area,” stated Darick Blackshere, another LAHSA representative. Volunteers will record their findings using a dedicated app, enabling real-time data tracking.

The magnitude of unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles is described by Rubenstein as unparalleled. “New York can primarily look at their data database because most of their folks are in a shelter, but most of the people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles are outside,” he noted. This distinction highlights the unique challenges faced in accurately counting those without stable housing in the city.

In addition to the volunteer effort, a specially trained team from the University of Southern California (USC) will conduct outreach over several months. This team will engage directly with individuals living in RVs and tents to gather more detailed demographic information about this population. “That’s how we find out things like who is out there—demographics, characteristics—and it’s also how we find out how many people are inside because on the night of the count, we don’t ask volunteers to look inside,” Rubenstein explained.

Earlier this year, LAHSA faced criticism from researchers at RAND Corporation, who suggested that last year’s count may have underrepresented the homeless population. Both LAHSA and RAND’s findings indicate a slight decline in homelessness, but questions remain about the accuracy of the data.

The upcoming count is not just a logistical exercise; it arrives at a critical time when homelessness continues to be a pressing issue in Los Angeles. The data collected will inform policies and resource allocation aimed at addressing the crisis. Rubenstein emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “The volunteer force is necessary and plays a crucial role in helping determine critical solutions to LA’s ongoing crisis.”

For those interested in volunteering for the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, further information is available through LAHSA’s website. The participation of community members can significantly impact the effectiveness of the count and, consequently, the solutions developed for addressing homelessness in the city.