Long Beach needs 350 volunteers to help canvass the unhoused population
City officials ask for assistance in completing the 2025 Homeless Point in Time Count.
Long Beach’s Department of Health and Human Services is requesting 350 volunteers to help in its street count of the unhoused population that will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
Volunteers for the 2025 Homeless Point in Time Count must be at least 18 years old, attend a two-hour orientation and training prior to Jan. 23 and commit to a four-hour canvassing shift on that date.
Volunteers are expected to check in at 4:30 a.m. and the count will begin at 5 a.m.
On the day of the count, volunteers will arrive at Grand Long Beach (4101 E. Willow St.) at 4:30 a.m. where they will be assigned a segment of the city to canvass. Each segment will be surveyed by three to five volunteers.
During their canvassing, volunteer teams will be provided with gift cards, hygiene kits and water to give to unhoused people they encounter.
Volunteer orientations will be held on the following days and times:
- Wednesday, Jan. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, Jan. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Long Beach Multi-Service Center (1301 W. 12th St.)
- Thursday, Jan, 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom
Anyone wishing to volunteer but can’t do so in person can assist in other ways, according to city officials. If you are able to donate financially, do so here.
Community members can also donate items, such as socks, travel-sized hygiene products and bottled water to be distributed. Items can be dropped off at the following locations:
- All Long Beach Public Library locations during regular operating hours (libraries are closed Sundays and Mondays at select branches);
- Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays;
- Scherer Park Community Center (4654 Pasadena Ave.), 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays;
- Long Beach Multi-Service Center (1301 W 12th St.) 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The Multi-Service Center also will accept small gift cards ($5 to $10).
Anyone interested in volunteering should register here. A waitlist will be created if all 350 available spots are filled.
For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media.
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