Nearly 200 Volunteers Join Pasadena’s 2026 Homeless Count Effort

Homeless Count, 2024 (File Photo – W.K.)

The City of Pasadena conducted its 2026 Point-in-Time Homeless Count on Wednesday night, January 21, from 8:00 pmto 10:00 pm, followed by an early morning count on Thursday, January 22, from 6:00 am to 8:00 am. A supplementary Youth Count was held Thursday afternoon. Volunteer teams also conducted counts at all ten of the City’s branch libraries and at locations where individuals receive services.

By News Desk

Approximately 200 volunteers participated in this year’s count, including both first-time and returning participants. The effort was overseen by the City’s Housing Department, with teams of four to six volunteers deployed across 28 geographic zones covering the entire city. Volunteers used a mobile, GIS-enabled survey app developed by the City’s Department of Information Technology.

During the count, volunteers distributed cold weather kits containing warm clothing items, snacks, and resource flyers. The Pasadena Police Department supported the effort by surveying parks, freeway embankments, and other hard-to-access locations. In addition, the Pasadena Public Health Department, in partnership with Huntington Hospital, administered flu, COVID, and hepatitis A vaccines and distributed Narcan overdose reversal kits throughout the count.

“The community response has been incredibly encouraging. We surpassed our volunteer recruitment goals ahead of schedule, demonstrating that Pasadena residents view homelessness as a critical problem that is deserving of time and attention,” said Homeless Count Coordinator Christina Kasali. “This year, 48% of volunteers participated in the Pasadena Homeless Count for the first time. We’re grateful to everyone who participated and made the count a success.”

The Homeless Count provides a snapshot of the unhoused population on a given night and is primarily used to study demographics and track trends over time. Pasadena was the first city in California, and one of the first three cities in the nation, to conduct a dedicated Homeless Count, beginning in 1992.

Data collected from the Homeless Count is used year-round to inform the planning and funding of homeless services in Pasadena and is also used by federal, state, and county funders in allocating homeless services grants. Results from the 2026 Homeless Count are expected to be available by June 2026.