Volunteers take to the streets to count the homeless Riverside County

Volunteers are fanning out across Riverside County and the Coachella Valley surveying people living on the streets.

The effort started at 5 a.m. and will go through 9 a.m. with over 400 volunteers in 28 cities counting the homeless.

The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services will use the information collected to continue receiving federal funding for homeless programs, develop strategies to end homelessness, and to help homeless children and families who are in need.

Last year’s count found 290 veterans living on the streets.