PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hundreds of volunteers spent the overnight hours in the bitter cold canvassing for the annual Point-In-Time Count of Philadelphia’s homeless population.
About 400 people participated in the survey Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. They first met at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“This project supports the entire city of Philadelphia as we count the number of people who are experiencing homelessness, who are living and sleeping on our sidewalks and other outdoor spaces or even underground in our transit stations,” Philadelphia Managing Director Adam Thiel said in remarks before the volunteers were deployed.
Thiel said the final tally would also include the number of people staying at shelters and warming centers. The count is mandatory and takes place each January. The data collected is shared with the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which works with cities to determine funding, the viability of services offered, and the potential need for different services and programs.
“Each data point represents a person. This count helps us to understand the full scope of homelessness in our city. Your work here tonight makes that possible,” Kenneth Blackwell told the volunteers.
Blackwell has experienced housing insecurity himself and now works with the city to address homelessness. He reminded volunteers that their efforts weren’t just about numbers but also humanity.
“Remember that your presence matters,” he said. “You’re not just gathering information. You’re showing compassion, respect and dignity to those you meet. Even a small act of kindness like a smile can make a difference.”
The volunteers also gave participants gift cards for taking the time to speak with them. The 2024 survey counted 976 people — a 38% increase compared to 2023, city officials said.