In a few weeks, volunteers will fan out across Sacramento County with a simple but critical mission: to count our neighbors who have no place to call home. This isn’t just a government exercise. For the community of Rio Linda and Elverta, the upcoming Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on January 26 and 27 is a link to the state and federal dollars needed to address the homelessness we see along Dry Creek and our local bike trails.
Every two years, this federally required census provides a snapshot of life on the streets. The data collected determines how much funding our region receives to combat the crisis. When we get an accurate count, we help ensure our fair share of resources to help those in need right here in our backyard.
Why this matters to Rio Linda
The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this count from any community receiving federal funding. The logic is straightforward: accurate numbers lead to appropriate funding. If Sacramento County demonstrates a specific need, the federal and state governments allocate money to match that need.
Local officials note that funding for homelessness resolution is tied directly to these numbers. If our region represents a certain percentage of the state’s homeless population, we receive a corresponding percentage of the available funds. These dollars support services that can move people off the streets and into housing.
Dispelling myths with hard data
The count does more than just tally heads; it reveals the truth about who is struggling in our community. The 2024 count found 6,615 individuals living without permanent housing in Sacramento County. While that number represented a nearly 29% decrease from two years prior, the demographics tell an important story for locals who might believe unhoused people are being bussed in from elsewhere.
The data shows that 89% of those counted in 2024 had lived in Sacramento County for at least six months, and remarkably, more than 60% were lifelong residents. These are people who grew up here, attended our schools, and worked in our businesses before falling on hard times.
The count also tracks vital demographic trends, including race, age, and veteran status. This information allows service providers to identify disparities and ensure that aid reaches every group effectively, from veterans who served our country to families with children under 18.
Volunteers needed: Safety is the priority
Organizers need boots on the ground to make this work. While the goal is 1,000 volunteers to cover the county’s 965 square miles, fewer than 400 have signed up so far. The deadline to register is January 16.
Safety is a top concern for many who consider helping. Organizers emphasize that no volunteer is ever sent out alone. Teams are carefully assembled, and professional outreach workers handle the most challenging locations, such as deep encampments along the parkways. Volunteers focus on accessible areas, tasked simply with asking questions and recording answers.
The count takes place at night—specifically from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.—because that is when people are most likely to be settled, reducing the risk of counting the same person twice.
A step toward a solution
Participating in the count often changes how volunteers view the issue. It shifts the focus from overwhelming statistics to individual human stories. The number one request from those interviewed in past years was simple: affordable housing.
For Rio Linda and Elverta, this is an opportunity to move beyond complaints and toward action. By helping to secure an accurate count, we help secure the tools needed to fix the problem.
How to Help: Volunteers are needed for the evenings of Jan. 26 and Jan. 27. Training is provided.
Deadline to register: Jan. 16.
To sign up: Visit the Sacramento Steps Forward website.
