Volunteers needed for Maricopa County's annual homelessness count

By Katherine Davis-Young
Published: Tuesday, January 3, 2023 - 3:14pm
Updated: Thursday, January 25, 2024 - 11:09am

homelessness and heat
Katherine Davis-Young/KJZZ
An 69-year-old unsheltered Phoenix man gathers his belongings in summer 2022.

The Maricopa Association of Governments is looking for volunteers to help count the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Phoenix area. 

The point-in-time homelessness street count takes place in cities nationwide each January. Volunteers visit parks, alleyways and other areas where unsheltered people tend to sleep to try to get an accurate count of how many people in the region are homeless.

In Maricopa County, these counts have shown the unsheltered population has more than tripled since 2016. That data is critical for government agencies and charitable organizations that are trying to address the region’s growing homelessness crisis.

This year’s count will take place on Jan. 24 starting at 6 a.m. Those interested in volunteering can contact coordinators through the MAG website.

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