A local task force is searching for volunteers to help count and interview the county’s homeless population to better understand the problem facing our area.
The Regional Task Force on the Homeless (RTFH) has scheduled its annual WeALLCount census for Jan. 23. Between 4 and 7 a.m. that day, more than 1,000 volunteers in groups of two or three will cover the entire county to count those who are living without shelter.
The teams will also track the number of people who sleep in homeless shelters on Jan. 23.
In the days following the count, trained volunteers will return to conduct interviews, gathering demographic data to shed light on the scope of homelessness, its impact on the community and possible solutions.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this type of homeless data from cities across the country. The number of homeless individuals dictates the amount of funding for which San Diego will qualify.
To sign up, visit the WeALLCount website. All volunteers will receive training to help the endeavor.
Last year, the census counted 8,506 homeless individuals in San Diego County, with just less than half living unsheltered, another 13 percent living in an emergency shelter, and 37 percent in transitional housing.
