San Bernardino County needs volunteers to help with the annual count of unsheltered individuals next month to gather data that determines the local share of federal funding to address homelessness, officials said Wednesday.
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count set for Jan. 22 is a collaboration between the county Office of Homeless Services and the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership. The effort provides a snapshot of the local homeless population, which officials said helps them track progress toward reducing homelessness and ensuring resources are directed to the areas most in need.
According to last year’s PITC, 3,821 individuals were experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness countywide. Officials said the data played a significant role in guiding outreach initiatives and funding priorities and pointed to recent projects to address homelessness.
This year construction started on the expansion of the Pacific Village housing campus to add 58 permanent supportive housing units, 32 recuperative care beds and 32 substance abuse treatment beds, according to the county. Two former motels the county acquired are for slated for conversion to 50 permanent supportive housing units for encampment residents and 130 beds of interim housing for unhoused patients transitioning out of medical care.
“The county’s investment in affordable housing and expanding shelter capacity is making a difference, but our work is far from over,” Homeless Services Chief Marcus Dillard said in a statement. “PITC volunteers play a vital role in collecting information the county needs to secure funding and continue investing in affordable housing and expanding shelter capacity. We highly encourage community members and organizations to participate in the count.”
Volunteers canvass cities, towns and unincorporated communities to count, survey and offer assistance to individuals whose primary place to live at night is in a vehicle, park, abandoned building, transit center, riverbed or other unsheltered area.
Information collected during the count goes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Volunteers are essential to the success of the PITC,” Dillard said. “Your participation helps the county capture a snapshot of homelessness and address the needs of the unhoused community.”
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have an Android or iOS smartphone to conduct the survey using an internet-based app.
Count organizers will assign participants to groups that cover specific areas of the county. Officials said walking will be involved, and personal transportation is required. Training will be available in person and online.
Volunteer registration is online via tinyurl.com/4rtnbdak.
For questions about the PITC, call 909-501-0610 or email OHS@hss.sbcounty.gov.
