Local volunteers participate in 2020 Point in Time count, annual survey of homeless countywide

The 2020 Point in Time Count starts Wednesday morning. The annual survey of homeless adults and youth across Riverside county helps secure funding to help combat the issue. 

The count provides an estimate of how many individuals are living on the streets, in cars or in shelters. More than 700 volunteers are expected to help out Wednesday through Friday. The volunteers are from non-profits, churches and other groups. Countywide, they’ll be covering a 7,300 square mile landscape.

Organizers say widespread participation from those who really know their communities and who can communicate with the homeless is essential when heading out. 

Last year, the county identified more than 2,800 homeless countywide -- up about 500 from the year prior. 

Dozens of volunteers from Palm Springs gathered at City Hall Wednesday morning to help survey their local area.