The Californer - Long Beach Seeks Volunteers for 2026 Homeless Point in Time Count

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Above: City of Long Beach staff and community volunteers conduct the 2025 Homeless Point in Time Count.

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is calling on 350 community members to volunteer for the 2026 Point in Time Count, an annual street and shelter count of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, taking place on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

Long Beach is one of only three cities in Los Angeles County that independently manages its own Continuum of Care (CoC), a local network funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that coordinates housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. While HUD requires CoCs to conduct a count every other year, Long Beach holds its Count annually to better inform local planning and improve services. The City's Homeless Services Bureau, within the Health Department, leads the effort and oversees the Long Beach CoC.

The Point in Time Count is more than a data collection effort—it is a communitywide initiative inviting residents and businesses to connect with neighbors experiencing homelessness, learn about available resources and actively support the City's response to homelessness. Information gathered during the Count plays a critical role in understanding the scope of homelessness in Long Beach, shaping services and identifying gaps in resources.

Volunteer registration is now open and will remain available until all slots are filled. If more than 350 people register, additional participants will be placed on a waitlist.

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Street Count Volunteer Information
To volunteer for the street count, people must:

Be 18 years or older.
- Attend a two-hour orientation and training prior to the Count. Orientations will be offered both virtually and in person in January.
- Commit to a four-hour canvassing shift on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. Volunteers must report by 4:30 a.m. and will be dispatched to the field by 5 a.m.

Volunteers will meet at The Grand Long Beach (4101 E. Willow St.) at 4:30 a.m., where they will be grouped in teams of three to five and assigned specific areas of the city for the count. Teams will also administer surveys to people experiencing homelessness who are willing to share information, as well as distribute gift cards, hygiene kits and water during the outreach. In low-density areas of the city, people may be assigned to canvass by car, but most will be on foot.

All street count volunteers, regardless of prior participation, must complete one of the following required orientation sessions, which will cover best practices for engaging with people experiencing homelessness, how to use the Count's mobile application and day-of logistics of the Count itself:

Online: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
In-person: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Housing Authority building (1500 Hughes Way, Ste. C-300). Capacity is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Online: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Shelter Count Volunteer Information
In addition to the street count, the City also conducts a shelter count where staff and volunteers collect data and administer surveys to people residing in local interim housing facilities. According to HUD, residents of interim housing are still considered to be experiencing homelessness. People interested in participating in the shelter count, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, can note their interest when registering for the Point in Time Count. Shelter count volunteers will not be asked to participate in the street count on Jan. 22, 2026, or the street count orientations listed above; however, shelter count volunteers will be required to participate in a separate shelter count orientation held virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

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Other Ways to Get Involved

Connecting People to Resources
Residents can play a role in addressing homelessness by reporting people or areas in need of services. Connecting people with the appropriate resources is crucial to ensuring positive outcomes for the entire community. To assist residents, the City has published a guide outlining who to call in different situations.

Donation Drop-offs
Donation drop-off bins, implemented in early 2023, remain available at locations across the city, offering a convenient way for residents to contribute essential items that can make a meaningful impact. Bins are located at all open Long Beach Public Library locations during regular business hours, as well as at the locations below:

Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scherer Park Community Center, (4654 Pasadena Ave.), Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.

For more information about the Long Beach Homeless Count, visit longbeach.gov/homelesscount, email HomelessCount@longbeach.gov or call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4500.

Media inquiries may be directed to the Health Department's Public Affairs Office at HE-PublicAffairs@longbeach.gov.

Filed Under: Government, City

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