Early Wednesday morning, Riverside County officials and volunteers fanned out across the county, trying to put a number on how many residents are without permanent shelter. The Point-in-Time Count was the county’s first such canvass in two years. The data collected Wednesday, Jan. 22, is reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and helps determine how much funding the county will get from the state and federal government to address local homelessness. San Bernardino County will conduct its count on Thursday, Jan. 23. Manvela Zaragoza with adult protective services speaks with Marcus Willis near a riverbank in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Zaragoza offers a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A man moves his belongings in the parking lot of an abandoned strip mall near Main Street in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Manvela Zaragoza with adult protective services and volunteer Victoria Yurkins speaks with an individual at an abandoned strip mall near Main Street on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Zaragoza offers a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Manvela Zaragoza with adult protective services and volunteer Victoria Yurkins speaks with individuals at an abandoned strip mall near Main Street on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. They offer a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) An individual at an abandoned strip mall near Main Street on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 speaks with a City Net social worker as they conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Two different shoes hang of branch near a riverbed encampment on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Corona. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) City officials, volunteers and social workers with City Net walk through a riverbed encampment in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. They offer a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Volunteers, Eric Vargas and Victoria Yurkins stand by while Heidi Marshall director of Housing and Workforce Solutions for the County of Riverside speak with an individuals near Main Street on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. They offer a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A Corona City Police Officer helps a man put on a shirt near a riverbed encampment in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) An individual at an encampment near the riverbank in Corona looks for his shoes before heading to a free breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Chris Zotea a City Net social worker leads people to a police car where they taken to center to free breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) An individual at an encampment speaks with a City Net social worker as they conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Corona City Police Sergeant Ryan Hubbard walks through dry brush looking for people in the encampment in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Volunteer Summer Arias conducts the a Point-in-Time Count survey to a women at an encampment in Corona Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A volunteerengage with an individual at an abandoned strip mall near Main Street in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. They offer a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Karen Roper the housing and homeless solutions manager with the City of Corona gives volunteers an introduction to what they experience in the field at a City Hall office in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.(Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) City officials, volunteers and social workers with City Net gather together on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 at Corona City Hall before they go out into the field to conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A Corona City Police Officer checks out an abandoned building doorway looking for people in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A riverbed encampment is seen in Corona Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A riverbed encampment is seen in Corona Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) A volunteer and social worker with City Net engage with an individual at an abandoned strip mall near Main Street in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. They offer a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 21Manvela Zaragoza with adult protective services speaks with Marcus Willis near a riverbank in Corona on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Zaragoza offers a free breakfast and conduct a Point-in-Time Count survey, which helps allocate state and federal funding for programs to assist those without permanent shelter. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Expand At Corona City Hall on Wednesday morning, about three dozen volunteers grouped up with law enforcement officers and social workers, spreading out across Riverside County from there. A group of about 10 officials and volunteers made their way down Main Street and the nearby Temescal Wash, reaching out to residents they encountered along the way. Many of the residents spoken to refused the services offered, although about three accepted rides with law enforcement to free breakfasts. Related Articles Local News | New homelessness data: How does California compare to the rest of the U.S.? Local News | How to find emergency student housing: A resource guide Local News | This housing program keeps college students off the streets and in the classroom Local News | Food banks could spend less, and feed more, under new national program Local News | Hemet wants Riverside County to relocate planned homeless housing center In Riverside County, where the homeless count is conducted every other year, an estimated 3,725 county residents did not have a permanent place to live in 2023, up from 2,978 in 2013. That’s about 149 out of every 100,000 county residents experiencing homelessness in 2023. In San Bernardino County, where the count is performed annually, an estimated 3,055 county residents were living without permanent shelter in 2024, up from 2,321 in 2013. Using 2023 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, that means about 122 of every 100,000 San Bernardino County residents did not have a consistent place to live. In both counties, that’s better than the state and national averages. Statewide, an estimated 180,000 Californians experience homelessness every night, or about 455 people per 100,000 residents. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 653,100 people — or 195 people per 100,00 residents nationally — were homeless in 2023. California is home to about 28% of all people experiencing homelessness in the U.S., according to HUD. Staff writer Anjali Paul contributed to this story. More on Inland Empire homelessness Why haven’t we solved homelessness in California? What does the Supreme Court’s ruling on homeless sleeping outside mean for the Inland Empire? ‘No more excuses’ for cities, counties on homelessness, Gov. Newsom says Riverside County Homeless to Work program looks to turn lives around California sends $34 million to Inland Empire to clear homeless encampments