San Bernardino County is recruiting volunteers to help conduct its annual Point-in-Time Count of people experiencing homelessness, officials announced Tuesday.
The annual count is set for Jan. 28 and provides a snapshot of the county’s sheltered and unsheltered homeless population. The data helps officials assess community needs, measure progress and guide decisions about housing and supportive services.
The 2026 count identified 3,718 people experiencing homelessness across the county, a 3.1% decrease from the previous year, officials reported. Of those counted, 2,448 were unsheltered and 1,270 were staying in sheltered locations.
The unsheltered population declined by 188 people, or 7.1%, compared with the previous year. The homeless population declined 10.2% in 2025 after a 1% increase in 2024, a 26% rise in 2023 and 6.6% uptick in 2022.
County officials say the annual count is an important tool for determining where they should direct additional resources.
“Understanding the extent of homelessness is essential to developing effective solutions and identifying where additional housing and supportive services are needed,” Homeless Services Chief Marcus Dillard said in a statement. “Volunteers play an important role in the success of the annual count by gathering information that will support future planning, investments and efforts to address homelessness.”
During the count, volunteers will travel through cities, towns and unincorporated communities to identify and survey people whose primary nighttime residence is an unsheltered location. These locations may include vehicles, parks, abandoned buildings, transit centers and riverbeds.
Officials noted expanded housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the expansion of Highland Creek, formerly known as Pacific Village. Once all phases are complete, the facility will include 58 permanent supportive housing units, 32 recuperative care beds and 32 substance use treatment beds.
In April 2026, the county and seven West End cities — Chino, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Upland — held a groundbreaking ceremony for the West End Regional Navigation Center. The facility plans to provide 100 shelter beds, 100 recuperative care beds and supportive services to help people transition into permanent housing.
To prepare volunteers for the 2027 count, officials will continue offering a web-based survey application and StoryMap. Additional training resources include a self-paced online training module and virtual office hours where volunteers can ask questions and receive assistance before the event.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a smartphone to complete surveys through the web-based application. Participants will be assigned to teams and designated areas throughout the county.
The count requires walking, and volunteers must provide their own transportation.
The deadline to register is Jan. 22, 2027. Interested residents can sign up through the county’s Point-in-Time Count volunteer registration page.
For more information, call 909-501-0610 or email OHS@hss.sbcounty.gov.
