Volunteers gathered Tuesday before sunrise throughout Orange County, ready to head outside to determine how many people are unhoused and where they are predominantly living.
The county’s biennial three-day homeless count officially began Monday night, as volunteers canvassed emergency shelters and other forms of temporary housing.
The count is required by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and plays a significant role in how much state and federal funding is granted to address homeless issues.
“… It (the count) helps us canvass the entire county and helps us to understand what we should be doing throughout the rest of the year and where we should be going,” Doug Becht, OC Care Coordination said.
While figuring out just how many people are unhoused is a priority, volunteers also take snacks and hygiene packs to connect and offer services to the unhoused they encounter.
In the Point-in-Time count, every unhoused person is also asked what brought them to the area and where they are currently living — in a car, on the street or in a shelter.