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HOUSING + HOMELESSNESS

Volunteers needed to help count the homeless population in Utah

Jan 16, 2025, 3:00 PM

volunteers collect data on homelessness in utah...

Volunteers from Salt Lake City government offices regroup as they conduct the annual Point-in-Time count on North Temple in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Point-in-Time is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness conducted nationwide over several days in January. (Spenser Heaps/Deseret News)

(Spenser Heaps/Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — Advocates for those experiencing homelessness in Utah are bracing for the results of the annual homelessness count.

The national PIT, or Point-In-Time count, takes place at the end of the month. The count is part of a national effort to determine how many people are experiencing homelessness.

Karissa Guthrie of the Road Home said the state needs more volunteers.

“[Volunteers will] help go out throughout the night and see people that are sitting on the streets as well and help us record that data to get a real, true glimpse of how many people are not only experiencing homelessness in the resource centers but also on the streets,” Guthrie said.

Volunteers will seek out and interview people on Jan. 30, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Guthrie said the numbers this year will probably be higher due to the lack of affordable housing.

“We’re seeing a lack of affordable housing, which is causing more and more people to face homelessness, unfortunately,” Guthrie said. “I would anticipate that we’re going to see more numbers. We’ll just have to wait and see what those numbers come out with.”

Utah’s numbers will be compiled with national numbers to hopefully provide a true-to-life glimpse of the homeless situation across the nation.

Tammy Kikuchi is a reporter and anchor for KSL NewsRadio. 

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Volunteers needed to help count the homeless population in Utah