PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services is looking for volunteers to help with the yearly Point-in-Time Count.
OHS Executive Director Cheryl Hill says it takes up to 400 volunteers to count the unhoused population across the city, so she welcomes anyone willing to participate and hopes that will include young people and those with lived experience.
“Different demographics, and sometimes age brackets, respond differently and we want individuals to feel safe. And with young adults who are experiencing homelessness, sometimes there is safety with their peers,” Hill said.
Hill says she’s hoping volunteers will sign up by Monday, Jan. 6, because the city wants to get everyone trained before the actual count, which will get underway at the Convention Center on Jan. 22 at 10 p.m. Volunteers will head out around 11 p.m. to various parts of the city, including Kensington, West Philly and Center City.
Hill says it's a long night that often goes until dawn the next day.
Volunteers will be asked to approach some people living on the street to fill out a survey. Hill hopes they’ll find it rewarding.
“Not only does that help HUD determine how many people there are nationally but it also gives us an idea of the services and the need currently in our city,” Hill said.
Last year’s count found more than 5,000 homeless people in the city, including nearly 1,000 living outside.
To register, visit surveymonkey.com/r/2025PITCount.