The annual count of homeless residents living in Riverside County was canceled due to heightened safety concerns for volunteers and staff who conduct the count and for unsheltered residents who participate in an interview survey. The recent COVID-19 surges, the current stay-at-home order, and lack of staff and volunteer capacity were noted as challenges in conducting a safe and accurate count.
The Point-In-Time Count is coordinated by the Continuum of Care (CoC), a homeless planning body comprised of local service providers, advocates, and government officials, and typically takes place at the end of January. The data is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine how to distribute federal funding, and by policymakers in determining the scope of homelessness nationwide.
Last year, more than 800 volunteers and staff participated in the Point-In-Time Count which counted 2,884 homeless individuals in Riverside County, including 2,155 individuals unsheltered and 729 sheltered, according to the Department of Public Social Services.
For more information, click here. For homeless assistance, contact the HomeConnect line at 800-498-8847 or [email protected].
