On Wednesday, January 24, HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez and Department staff joined more than 800 volunteers for a two-night effort to count those people currently experiencing homelessness in Sacramento.

Known as the Point in Time (PIT) Count, this event occurs every other year in late January in communities across the nation. Volunteers count the number of sheltered and unsheltered persons in real time and gather important data that help shape future services and programs for people who are without stable housing.

Director Velasquez said that the value of participating in the PIT Count is being able to go out in the community and speak to people.

“You are able to talk to people experiencing homelessness and get a full story of what they are going through, what they are living, why they are living this way, and what the Newsom Administration in partnership with localities can do to support them and get them out of the cycle,” said Director Velasquez.

“These are families. These are our neighbors. We need to support them. We need to ensure that they have a network of support services available to them,” he said.

View the video below to hear Director Velasquez speak about the PIT Count.