Annual Homeless Count
The Homeless Count, also known as the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, is a count of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night. This Count provides the City with a better understanding on the scale and demographics of people experiencing homelessness within Long Beach. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of California require the PIT Count to be conducted by Continuums of Care who receive federal funding for homeless services. Participating in the Homeless Count improves data for service providers, government and the public, supporting better solutions for homelessness in Long Beach.
Occurring annually, in either January or February, around 250 volunteers help count people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. The Homeless Count allows residents and businesses to volunteer, learn more about homelessness, and understand available resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Homeless Count: Get Involved
2026 Homeless Count Information
Volunteer Registration for the 2026 Long Beach Homeless Count is now open! The Homeless Count is an annual comprehensive count of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. Groups of three to five volunteers will canvass a segment of Long Beach to count and survey people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers will be provided with gift cards and hygiene kits to offer.
We invite you to join us for a hands-on opportunity to hear directly from people experiencing homelessness and partner in improving the services and solutions we offer.
To sign up as a volunteer for the Count, please register here. If more than 350 people register to volunteer, people will be added to a waitlist.
To volunteer for the PIT Count, people must:
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Be 18 years or older.
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Attend a two-hour orientation and training prior to the day of the Count. Orientations will be held both virtually and in person and will occur in early January.
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Commit to a four-hour canvassing shift on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Volunteers must report at 4:30 a.m. and will be dispatched to the field by 5:00 a.m.
PIT Count Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Donate
As part of the Homeless Count, City volunteers provide care kits to people experiencing homelessness, these kits include socks, travel-sized hygiene products, and gift cards of $5 or $10. The City is seeking donations of socks, travel-sized hygiene products, bottled water and small gift cards of $5 to $10, to distribute during the Count. Physical donations can be dropped at the following locations:
- All Long Beach Public Library locations during regular operating hours
- Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
- Scherer Park Community Center, (4654 Pasadena Ave.), from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
- Long Beach Multi-Service Center, (1301 W 12th St.), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
To financially contribute towards Count incentives, donations can be made online through the , administered by the Long Beach Community Foundation. Donors should type “Homeless Count - Mayor's Fund” in the Additional Comments box.
Check donations may be mailed to Long Beach Community Foundation, 1 World Trade Center, 8th Floor. Long Beach, CA 90831. Please make check payable to “Long Beach Community Foundation” and write “Homeless Count - Mayor's Fund” in the memo section. These tax-deductible donations will be used for gift cards and other incentives for individuals surveyed on the day of the Count.
