Annual Homeless Count
Learn more about the annual count including volunteer opportunities.
Every winter, in January or February, nearly 300 volunteers count the number of people experiencing homelessness in our city. The Point in Time count is a communitywide effort that provides an opportunity for residents and local businesses to actively contribute and learn about people who are experiencing homelessness and gain an understanding of the resources available to address homelessness in Long Beach. The count is vital in determining the scope of homelessness, defining existing resources available and identifying gaps to better serve these individuals.
The results of the most recent count can be found at 2024 City of Long Beach Homeless Point in Time Count Report.
The City's press release regarding the results can be found at Long Beach Releases Results of the 2024 Homeless Point in Time Count.
2025 Homeless Count Information
Volunteer Registration for the 2025 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.
Volunteer
To register as a volunteer for the Count, please register here. If more than 300 people register to volunteer, people will be added to a waitlist.
To volunteer for the PIT Count, people must:
- Be 18 years or older.
- 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.
- Commit to a four-hour canvassing shift. Volunteers will be expected to report at a specific time, typically around 4:30 a.m. and dispatched to the field by 5 a.m.
Donate
In addition to volunteering, the City is also seeking donations of socks, travel-sized hygiene products, bottled water and small gift cards of $5 to $10, which will also be distributed during the Count. Physical donation items can be dropped off at the following locations:
- All Long Beach Public Library locations during regular operating hours (libraries are closed Sundays and Mondays)
- 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, people can donate online at Mayor’s Fund For Homeless Action, admistered by the Long Beach Community Foundation, and type “Homeless Count - Mayor's Fund” in the Additional Comments box. Donations can also be made by check. 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 of the check. These tax-deductible donations will be used towards gift cards and other incentives for individuals being surveyed on the day of the Count.
To learn more about ways to donate, people may email HomelessCount@longbeach.gov.
2024
2023
2022
2020
- 2020 Press Release
- 2020 Homeless Count Comparison
- 2020 Homeless Count Summary
- 2020 Housing Inventory Count
- California Continuums of Care: Comparison of 2019 and 2020 Homeless Counts
