San Mateo County, California – San Mateo County is asking community members to help with a big project to learn more about and deal with homelessness in the region. The County’s Human Services Agency is looking for volunteers to help with the 2026 One Day Homeless Count, which will take place on Thursday, January 29, 2026. They are working with local community partners to find volunteers.
The annual count is required under federal guidelines and serves as a critical tool for measuring the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single day. County leaders and service providers may use the information gathered to see patterns, figure out what people need, and make prudent decisions about financing, programs, and long-term plans to reduce homelessness.
County officials stress that volunteers are very important for making the count accurate and useful. Claire Cunningham, the director of the Human programs Agency, says that each participant helps to make it easier to see where resources are most needed and how to properly target programs to help those who don’t have secure home.
“Community volunteers are essential to the success of this effort,” said Claire Cunningham, Director of the Human Services Agency. “Each volunteer helps ensure we have an accurate picture of homelessness in our county so we can better direct resources where they’re needed most.”
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People who want to help will meet early in the morning, and activities will go on from about 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Participants will be given a specific census tract and will either walk or drive across it to look for and record people who are not in shelters. The volunteer will use a mobile app on their own smartphone to keep track of their observations. The County will offer free online training to get people ready for the event.
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Breakfast and coffee will be available on the day of the count to help volunteers. The County is inviting people from all walks of life to become involved, especially those who know their areas well or want to help find solutions to homelessness. People who may have trouble getting around, getting to places, or using specific technologies can get help.
Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the 2026 One Day Count General Volunteer Registration Form. Additional information is available by contacting the Human Services Agency at [email protected].
