Community Counts

Volunteers will sign up for a chosen hub and report to that location by 9:00 pm on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Training and supplies will be provided upon arrival. Hub leadership will assign survey teams of 2 - 4 people who will be responsible for covering routes either on foot or by car. 

Some of the survey routes are walking routes; others are driving routes and require a personal vehicle. Walking routes are outside and around one to two miles. Some teams will cover more than one route.

Volunteers will work in teams and complete a brief survey for each individual they encounter outside. If individuals are sleeping, the survey will be based only on observation. In some areas, canvassing could last until 2:00 am, though this is expected to be a rare situation. All volunteers will “check out” with their hub’s leadership before going home.

Any friends, family, or co-workers over the age of 18 years old are welcome to sign up to volunteer. People who want to volunteer together should register for the same volunteer hub as soon as possible. Volunteer hubs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Groups who want to work together should plan to arrive at the volunteer hub early and at the same time so hub leaders can make efforts to arrange teams appropriately. Working together throughout the evening is not guaranteed, as team sizes vary by location, and groups may need to be split up to accommodate needs.

Please email DHS-CommunityCounts@alleghenycounty.us to cancel a registration or request a change to the selected volunteer hub. Please keep in mind, volunteer hubs are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so changing hubs is not guaranteed.

The safety of volunteers and of unsheltered people is the number one priority. All volunteers will receive branded clothing or accessories that identify them as part of the Community Counts project. No one will canvass areas alone. People will canvass in teams of 2 - 4 and are expected to stay together at all times. There are central staff that can be reached by phone if teams encounter any issues and no one is expected to canvass in locations where they feel unsafe. There will be thorough safety training before canvassing.

Please contact DHS-CommunityCounts@alleghenycounty.us with any questions or concerns. Please allow for up to 48 hours to respond to emails.