Volunteers are currently counting Sacramento’s homeless. See how it’s going
By The Sacramento Bee
Volunteers fanned out across Sacramento County on Monday night as part of a two-day effort to count the homeless population.
The Point-in-Time Count is conducted every two years and the data it generates is shared with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help determine federal funding for housing programs.
The count is led by Sacramento Steps Forward, a nonprofit that oversees regional homeless services. Last year it estimated nearly 9,000 people are homeless in Sacramento County. The 2024 Point-in-Time Count estimated 6,615 people were experiencing homelessness and living in shelters or on the street, which was a 29% dip from the previous count.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty spoke about the count’s importance to the volunteers assembled Monday night at Scottish Rite Masonic Center in River Park.
“It’s important that we have an accurate count that dictates the resources that we get here in the city, in the county, at the state and federal level to address homelessness,” he said.
The count continues Tuesday night.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty speaks before participating in the Sacramento County Point-in-Time homeless count on Monday. “It's important that we have an accurate count that dictates the resources that we get here in the city, in the county, at the state and federal level to address homelessness,” he said. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Jamie Valles and Nathan Aguilar, both with the nonprofit Community HealthWorks, get their assignment during the Sacramento County Point-in-Time homeless count at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Sacramento on Monday. The survey is conducted every two years to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Evelynn Dominguez, with the nonprofit Community HealthWorks, speaks with Lory Yvonnegrubb, who has been homeless for five years, during the Sacramento County Point-in-Time Count on Monday. The survey is conducted every two years to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Sandra Montez, who said she has been living on the streets for 25 years, directs Khalil Owens, with the nonprofit Community HealthWorks, to other homeless residents living nearby during the Sacramento County Point-in-Time Count on Monday. The survey is conducted every two years to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Evelynn Dominguez, with the nonprofit Community HealthWorks, participates in the Sacramento County Point-in-Time homeless count on Monday. The survey is conducted every two years to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
A shopping cart holding the belongings of a homeless person is parked on the sidewalk near Watt Avenue during the Sacramento County Point-in-Time homeless count on Monday. The survey is conducted every two years in an attempt to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Lory Yvonnegrubb, homeless for five years, sits near the street on Howe Avenue during the Sacramento County Point-in-Time Count on Monday. The survey is conducted every two years to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Evelynn Dominguez, with the nonprofit Community HealthWorks, interviews Lory Yvonnegrubb, who has been homeless for five years, during the Sacramento County Point-in-Time Count on Monday. Yvonnegrubb requested a locker with a key for her property. The survey is conducted every two years to measure the number and demographics of the county's homeless population. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 3:30 PM.
Hector Amezcua is an award-winning visual journalist for The Sacramento Bee. Fluent in Spanish, he is a Fresno State graduate in journalism and Chicano studies. He has worked for McClatchy since 1992, taking pictures at all three Bee newsrooms in California.
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