Point-in-Time homeless count underway across Santa Barbara County

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The first homeless count of 2020 is underway across Santa Barbara County. Volunteers are fanning out across several cities with notable homeless populations as part of the Point-In-Time count.

Efforts to count the homeless population are taking place from 5:30-8:30 a.m.

Teams of volunteer and experts will canvas assigned routes in Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Solvang and Goleta.

In 2019, the count contacted 1800 homeless people in Santa Barbara County. The city of Santa Barbara had the highest number. The information gathered during the Point-In-Time count is used for several federal, state and local assistance funding programs and housing. It also raises public awareness.